206 



tail it is two and a half feet in length, aiid its height 

 is about twenty-two inches. The shape of its ears, 

 the position of its ej^es, its teeth, and the disposition 

 of its toes, are precisely like those of the fox ; like 

 that animal it also burrows in the fields. Its cry is 

 feeble, and resembles the barking of a little dog ; 

 and it preys upon small animals. Whenever the 

 eulpeu perceives a man, it comes strait towards him, 

 and at the distance of five or six paces stops and 

 looks attentively at him. K the person does not 

 move, the animal remains for some minutes in this 

 situation, and without attempting to do him any in- 

 jury retires. This singular curiosity of the eulpeu 

 is so well known to the inhabitants, that no one is 

 afraid of it, and I have mvself several times met 

 with it in the w^oods, when it has uniformly acted in 

 the same manner. The name appears to be derived 

 from the Chilian word culpem, which signifies mad- 

 ness or folly, and is strikingly applicable to the con- 

 duct of this animal, which constantly exposes it to 

 be shot by the hunters, and is probably the reason 

 why it is less common in Chili than the fox, though 

 it is equally prolific. It is mentioned by Commodore 

 Byron, who saw it in the Falkland islands, and sup- 

 posed it at first some ferocious wild beast, from the 

 manner of its approaching his men. Although the 

 , eulpeu does not appear to be stronger than the 

 fox, it is with much difficulty that a dog can over- 

 come it. 



The guigna (felis guigna) and the colocólo {feli$; 

 colocólo) are two species of wild-cats which inhabit 

 the forests. They resemble tilie domestic cat, but 



