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Show 1\IAMMALIA. 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 arc 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 arc about five Llack bands externally, and some'irregular dark spots internally. The feet arc 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. 'l'he 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 tlJCn a considerable space of yellowishwhite colour; towards the apex they are white, and at the apex black. The gTcater number of the hairs of the moustaches are white. Tn. Lines. In. Lines. 1 .cngtlt from nose to root of' tail 2G 0 J"cngth of car 1 11 to base of car 3 G llcigilt of body at shoulders 13 0 of tail (fur indttdcd) 11 0 Habitat, Santa Cruz, Patagonia, (April,) and Bahia Blanca, (Attgust.) 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 conspicuous. "TlJis animal takes its nan1e from 'paja,' the Spanish word for straw, fl'Om its habit of frcq uenting 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 halfgrown, and was killed in the end of August, at Bahia Blanca."-D. D 2 |