82 



RIO COLORADO. 



Aug. 1833. 



cavates its own burrow, but uses that of the Bizcacha. 

 Wherever this animal is present, without doubt this is true ; 

 but on the sandy plains of Bahia Blanca, where the Bizcacha is 

 not found, the Gauchos maifitain that the Agouti is its own 

 workman. The same thing occurs with the httle owls of the 

 Pampas [Noctua cunicularia), which have so often been de- 

 scribed as standing like sentinels at the mouths of the 

 burrows ; for in Banda Oriental, owing to the absence of the 

 Bizcacha, they are obliged to hollow out their own habita- 

 tions. Azara also says that the Agouti, except when pressed 

 by danger, does not enter its burrow : on this point 

 I must again differ from that high authority. At Bahia 

 Blanca T have repeatedly seen two or three of these animals 

 sitting on their haunches by the mouths of their holes, 

 which, as I passed by at a distance, they quietly entered. 

 Daily in the neighbourhood of these spots the Agouti were 

 abundant : but differently from most burrowing animals, it 

 wanders, commonly two or three together, to miles or 

 leagues from its home ; nor do I know whether it returns at 

 night. The Agouti feeds and roams about by day ; is shy and 

 watchful ; does not squat, or so rarely that I never saw an in- 

 stance of this ; it cannot run very fast ; and, therefore, is fre- 

 quently caught by a couple of dogs, even of mixed breed. 

 Its manner of running more resembles that of a rabbit than 

 of a hare. The Agouti generally produces two young ones 

 at a birth, which are brought forth within the burrow. The 

 flesh, when cooked, is very white; it is, however, rather 

 tasteless and dry. 



The next morning, as we approached the Rio Colorado, 

 the appearance of the country changed ; we soon came on a 

 plain covered with turf, which, from its flowers, tall clover, 

 and little owls, resembled the Pampas. We passed also a 

 muddy swamp of considerable extent, which in summer 

 dries, and becomes incrusted with various salts ; and hence 

 is called a salitral. It was covered by low succulent plants, 

 of the same kind with those growing on the sea-shore. The 

 Colorado, at the pass where we crossed it, is only about 



