144 



PAMPAS. 



Sept. 1833. 



there are plains which appear admirably adapted to its 

 habits. That river has formed an insuperable obstacle to its 

 migration; although the broader barrier of the Parana has 

 been passed, and the bizcacha is common in Entre Rios (the 

 province between the two rivers), directly on the opposite 

 shore of the Uruguay. Near Buenos Ayres these animals 

 are exceedingly common. Their most favourite resort appears 

 to be those parts of the plain, which during one half the year 

 are covered with giant thistles, to the exclusion of other 

 plants. The Gauchos affirm that it hves on roots; which, 

 from the great strength of its gnawing teeth, and the kind of 

 localities frequented by it, seems probable. As in the case of 

 the rabbit, a few holes are commonly placed together. In 

 the evening the bizcachas come out in numbers, and there 

 quietly sit on their haunches. They are at such times very 

 tame, and a man on horseback passing by, seems only to 

 present an object for their grave contemplation. They 

 do not wander far from their burrows. They run very 

 awkwardly, and, when hurrying out of danger, from their 

 elevated tails and short front legs much resemble great rats. 

 Their flesh, when cooked, is very white and good, but it is 

 seldom used. 



The bizcacha has one very singular habit; namely, drag- 

 ging every hard object to the mouth of its burrow. Around 

 each group of holes many bones of cattle, stones, thistle-stalks, 

 hard lumps of earth, dry dung, &c., are collected into a scat- 

 tered heap, which frequently amounts to as much as a wheel- 

 barrow would contain. I was credibly informed that a gentle- 

 man, when riding on a dark night, dropped his watch ; he 

 returned in the morning, and by searching the neighbourhood 

 of every bizcacha hole on the line of road, as he expected, 

 soon found it. This habit of picking up whatever may be 

 lying on the ground any where near its habitation, must cost 

 much trouble. For what purpose it is done I am quite unable 

 to form even the most remote conjecture : it cannot be for 

 defence, because the rubbish is chiefly placed above the 

 mouth of the burrow, which enters the ground at a very 

 small inclination. No doubt there must exist some good 



