LAGOTIS.

Or the genus lagotis there are two species described and figured by Mr. Bennett, and he gives the following translation of an account of the one called Cuvier's lagotis, written by Antonio de Ulloa, in the year 1772, in his "Noticias Americanas:"-"Taking the place of the rabbit, which is wanting in Peru, there is another kind of animal, called viscacha, which is not found in Quito. In form, and in the colour of the fur, it is similar to the rabbit, but differs from it in having a long tail furnished with tufted hair, which is very thin towards the root, but thick and long as it approaches the tip. It does not carry its tail turned over the head like the squirrel, but stretched out, as it were, in a horizontal direction: its joints are slender and scaly.

These animals conceal themselves in holes of the rocks in which they make their retreats, not forming burrows in the earth like rabbits. There they congregate in considerable numbers, and are mostly seen in a sitting posture, but not eating; they feed on the herbs and shrubs that grow among the rocks, and are very active. Their means of escape do not consist in the velocity of their flight, but in the promptitude with which they run to the shelter of their holes. They have this peculiarity, that as soon as they die, their hair falls off; and on this account, although it is softer and somewhat longer and finer than that of the rabbit, the skin cannot be made use of for common purposes. The flesh is white, but not well-flavoured, being especially distasteful at certain seasons, when it is altogether repugnant to the palate."

This species of lagotis dwells among the slopes of the Peruvian Andes, on their western side. Its general colour is a greyish ash, which is varied here and there with a tinge of brown. The hairs of the tail are mingled black and white. In length, this species is about one foot four inches, including the head, and the ears, which are rounded, and turned inwards at the edges, equal the head in length. The tail is about one foot long; the toes, both on the fore and the hind feet are four it number; the hind legs are considerably developed; the nose is rather long and narrow, and is furnished with long whiskers. The eyes are of moderate size, but prominent.

On the whole, therefore, as before observed, this animal bears a general resemblance to the rabbit.