seated high up, and are very open;
and the eyes are projecting. When walking, it carries its head low on a
short neck; and its hind-legs are rather longer compared with the front
ones than is usual.

The breed is supposed to have originated amongst the Indians southward
of the La Plata. It is fiercer than common cattle; and the cow easily
deserts her first calf if molested or visited too often. Now, it is a
singular fact that an almost similar structure to the abnormal one of
the niata breed characterises the great extinct ruminant of India--the
sivatherium. The breed is very true, and the niata bull and cow
invariably produce niata calves. "Can it be that this animal is an
aboriginal of the continent, and existed ages before the European breeds
were introduced?" asks Mr Darwin.

THE BIZCACHA.

The careless horseman on the Pampas soon becomes disagreeably acquainted
with the existence of a little rodent--the bizcacha--into whose
closely-set burrows should his horse step, he will to a certainty find
himself pitched over his steed's head. It closely resembles a rabbit,
but with larger gnawing teeth and a longer tail. It has only three toes
behind, like the agouti. The creatures are seen in great numbers during
the evening seated on their haunches in front of their abodes,--from
which they seldom wander far,--gravely contemplating the passer-by.
When scampering out of danger, their elevated tails and short fore-legs
give them the appearance of large rats.

They have a curious habit of dragging every hard object they find to the
mouth of their burrows; round which bones of animals, stones, and hard
lumps of earth, are found, collected in large irregular heaps.
Although, no doubt, some good reason exists for this habit, it is
difficult to account for it. A gentleman told Mr Darwin, that having
dropped his watch one dark night, he was unable to find it; but
returning the following morning, and searching the neighbourhood of
every bizcacha burrow along the line of road, he at length discovered it
among a heap of rubbish.

THE PERUVIAN BIZCACHA AND CHINCHILLA.

Another little rodent, very similar to the bizcacha of the Pampas, lives
high up on the mountain, often at an elevation of 12,000 feet. It
resembles the rabbit, but its ears are shorter, and its tail is long and
rough.

Nearly related to it, and inhabiting the same region, is the
chinchilla--a pretty little creature, rather larger than a squirrel,
wi