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the ground mouse, and several others, which I shall 

 more particularly describe hereafter. 



In confining the number of quadrupeds in Chili to 

 thirty-six species, I have reference only to those that 

 are well known ; but I am fully persuaded that there 

 is a much greater number, especially in the interior 

 of the Andes, that are as yet undiscovered or very 

 imperfectly known. This opinion is confirmed by 

 the common traditions of the country ; and I have 

 been informed of eight new species that have been 

 discovered at various times ; but as the descriptions 

 I have received of them have been very imperfect, 

 and the animals have been seen but by few, I have 

 thought them not sufficiently characterised to merit 

 a place among those whose economy is well known. 



Such, for instance, is the piguchen, a winged 

 quadruped, or species of large bat, which, if its ex- 

 istence is real, forms a very important link between 

 birds and quadrupeds. This animal is said to be 

 of the size and shape of a tame rabbit, and to be 

 covered with a fine hair of a cinnamon colour ; the 

 nose sharp, the eyes round and shining, the ears 

 almost invisible, the wings membranaceous, the paws 

 short and like those of the lizard, the tail round at 

 the root, and ending like that of a fish. It inhabits 

 holes in trees, which it leaves only at night, and 

 does no injury to any thing but insects, which serve 

 it for food. 



Of this kind is likcAvise the hippopotamus of the 

 rivers and the lakes of Arauco, which is different 

 from that of Africa, and in its form and stature re- 

 senibles the horse, but the feet are palmated like 



