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Show 1868.] LETTER FROM DR. R. O. CUNNINGHAM. 185 patience. The following brief observations, you will perceive, relate almost entirely to the zoology of the eastern part of the Strait. "The Puma (Felis concolor) must be tolerably plentiful in the open plains, as I met with several skulls and portions of skeletons in various localities, and I saw two live young ones which the Patagonians had captured and presented to the Governor of Sandy Point. Like Mr. Darwin, I have seen numerous skeletons of Guanacoes with their necks dislocated, apparently from the attack of the Puma. Two species of Fox are abundant, a grey and a tawny-coloured one, I presume the Canis azarce and C. magellanicus. The Skunk or Zo-rillo is also frequently met with, and is much valued by the Patagonians for its beautifully striped skin. The smell of one that was killed on one occasion when I was camping out reminded me of strong assafcetida. I did not attempt to skin it, as I should have been regarded in the light of a leper for days afterwards. Several species of Seal occur in the Strait; and Dungeness Point seems to be a favourite resort of the Sea-Lion (Otaria jubata), as we came across numerous putrefying specimens, in addition to seeing several live individuals off that locality. Of Cetacea there are also several species, among which the Delphinus bivittatus is conspicuous from its black and white bands. Guanacoes we met with in abundance both on the Fuegian and Patagonian sides of the Strait; on the latter side especially we saw some very large herds. I observed a black-faced variety at Philip Bay, on the Fuegian coast. I have nothing to add to our knowledge of the habits of this interesting animal. Like Mr. Darwin, I have noticed the combination of shyness and wariness with great curiosity in its character, and I have also frequently observed their habit, noticed by him, of dropping their dung on successive days in the same defined heap. Their flesh, which we ate on several occasions, is white and good, though not equal to that of the Rhea, which we highly appreciated. I met with several species of Rodents, all of them Muridce ; and, the most abundant by far, the Tucu-Tucu (Ctenomys magellanicus), which tunnels great tracts of ground in the open country. The innumerable hillocks resulting therefrom render walking very fatiguing, owing to their giving way under the feet when trod on. The animal itself I frequently heard giving vent to its peculiar sonorous sound in its subterranean retreat, and one bright sunny day, when taking a walk in the neighbourhood of Cape Gregory, I saw many specimens basking in the heat at the mouth of their holes. " I shall say nothing about the birds here, as I have made them the subject of a letter to Prof. Newton of Cambridge. Of reptiles I have only encountered one species, a small Lizard, which exists in tolerable plenty on the flat open country on both sides of the Strait, one specimen having been also procured in a wood at Sandy Point. I have not been very successful as regards the fishes. A Myxine occurred rather plentifully at Sandy Point, where I also got a small Raia ; and an Acanthias was caught off Dungeness. The above mentioned, with a fish allied to Uranoscopus obtained at Port Gallant, and various species found in rock-pools in various localities, |
