£Í5 



The mutîllos^ or the eleven banded, which is very 

 iittle larger than the preceding^ but its ears arc 

 much longer. 



The bolas^ or the eighteen banded, which is the 

 largest, and is thirteen inches in length from the nose 

 to the root of the tail. 



These four species belong to the quiriquinci of 

 BufFon, • a name which has been given them from 

 their possessing the property of contracting ^nd roll- 

 ing themselves up like a ball. When they are hard 

 pressed by the hunters, they frequently contract and 

 roll themselves down a precipice, like the hedge- 

 hog, and usually escape without injury, being pro- 

 tected by their coat of mail. But they have not 

 the same means of escape when they are found in 

 the plains ; they are then easily taken, and when they 

 roll themselves up are compelled to resume their na- 

 tural form by means of fire. The tliree first kinds run 

 very fast in a strait line, being prevented by the con- 

 formation of their armour from making turns. When 

 they get at a certain distance from their pursuers, 

 they endeavour to dig a hole in the ground to con- 

 ceal themselves, and hold so fast with their fore pav.^s 

 that it is almost impossible to force them away ; upon 

 these occasions the hunters have contrived a singu- 

 lar expedient to make them quit their hold, by intro- 

 ducing the point of a small stick into the anus. 



The CUT/ (lepus minimus) is a species of small 

 rabbit, which has been by some confounded witli 

 the guinea-pig, though it is not only distinguished 

 from that animal by its form, but by its generic cha- • 

 racter. It is a little larger than the field-mouse, and 



