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Show 32 ON THE MAMMALS OF THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. [JAN. 16, 15. SOMATERIA SPECTABILIS. The only Eider noticed north of Cape Union ; breeding in limited numbers. 16. BERNICLA BRENTA. Not uncommon along the shores of the Polar Basin, breeding. 2. Notes on some of the smaller Mammals of the Argentine Republic. By H E N R Y DURNFORD. [Eeceived December 18, 1876.] [Mr. Henry Durnford, now resident near Buenos Ayres and well known as a diligent collector of birds, has sent m e specimens of three small Mammals, with the subjoined notes on their habits. I trust he may be induced to continue his researches in this department, as the smaller Rodents of La Plata are still very imperfectly understood. Mr. Alston has kindly determined the species.-P. L. S.] 1. H E S P E R O M Y S V U L P I N U S (Licht.); Burm. Syst. Ueb. Th. Bras. i. p. 163. This Rat is not common, and from its habits and the inaccessible places it frequents is difficult to obtain. Hitherto I have only found it in lagunes to the north of Buenos Ayres, where the reeds and aquatic plants afford plenty of cover. In these extensive swamps it lives, making a large oval nest of rushes and grass, the finer fibres towards the interior, and generally building its dwelling about a foot above the water, amongst the reeds, but sometimes higher than this. It swims and dives with great ease and rapidity. Its food, so far as I have observed from the only two specimens I have obtained, consists of aquatic weeds and grass. 2. H E S P E R O M Y S E L I U R U S , Wagner; Burm. op. cit. p. 173. This Mouse is found in the same places as the preceding species, and is much more common than that animal. It lives amongst thick reeds, making a small oval nest of grass and fine rushes. Its chief peculiarity is the length of its hind legs, which enables it to take enormous leaps for so small an animal; and this is very necessary, as its only means of escape is by jumping from its nest, sometimes three feet above the water, into the weeds which cover the surface of the lagunes. It dives and swims with great rapidity. It is very often found in the nests of Synallaxis melanops, which are numerous, and generally about the same height above the water as its own. 3. D I D E L P H Y S C R A S S I C A U D A T A (Desm.). This is the Comadreja Colorado of the country. It is rare, lives in old hollow trees, roofs of houses, & c , and sometimes commits great havoc in the poultry-yard. The other species of Comadreja ** is quite common. 1 [Didelphys azures'!-ED.] |