MAMMALIA. 
19 
the fore-legs are also white. An irregular black line runs across the lower 
part of the chest and extends over the base of the fore-legs externally, and 
above this line there are two other transverse dark markings on the chest, 
which are more or less defined. On the fore-legs there are three broad black 
bands, two of which encircle the leg, and on the posterior legs there are about 
five black bands externally, and some irregular dark spots internally. The feet 
are yellowish, and the underside of the tarsus is of a slightly deeper hue. 
On the belly there are numerous large irregular black spots. The ears are 
of moderate size, furnished internally with long white hairs ; externally, the 
ears are of the same colour as the head, excepting at the apex where the 
hairs are black and form a slight tuft. The tail is short, somewhat bushy, and 
devoid of dark rings or spots — the hairs are in fact coloured as those of the 
back of the animal. On the upper part of the body each hair is brown at 
the base, then yellow, and at the apex, black. On the hinder part of the 
back the hairs are almost black at the base, and on the sides of the body 
each hair is gray at the base; there is then a considerable space of yellowish- 
white colour; towards the apex they are white, and at the apex black. The 
greater number of the hairs of the moustaches are white. 
Length from nose to root of tail 
to base of ear 
of tail (fur included) 
In. Lines. 
26 0 Length of ear 
3 6 Height of body at shoulders 
11 0 
In. Lines. 
1 11 
. 13 0 
Habitat, Santa Cruz, Patagonia, (April,) and Bahia Blanca, (August.) 
The markings in this animal vary slightly in intensity ; those on the body 
are generally indistinct, but the black rings on the legs are always very con- 
spicuous. 
“This animal takes its name from ‘paja,’ the Spanish word for straw, from 
its habit of frequenting reeds. It is common over the whole of the great plains, 
which compose the eastern side of the southern part of America. According to 
Azara, it extends northward as far as latitude 30°, and to the south, I have reason 
to believe, from the accounts I have received, that it is found near the Strait of 
Magellan, which would give it a range of nearly 1400 miles, in a north and south 
line. One of my specimens was obtained, in 50° south, at Santa Cruz : it was 
met with in a valley, where a few thickets were growing. When disturbed, it did 
not run away, but drew itself up, and hissed. My other specimen was half- 
grown, and was killed in the end of August, at Bahia Blanca.”— D. 
