The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-09

here comes what will seem perhaps the most
curious trait Of all.
Consider that though very social among mem
berso Of their own families. and given TO visiting
from community 10 community. they arc yet
very Jealous Of Intrusion into their burrows.
A yizcacha will not enter another burrow than
its own when chased by a dog unless so hard
pressed as 20 feel the dogs breath. And when
II does so get into the wrong hole II never re-
mains more than n minute or two. It Is elected
with bleeding wounds by the indignant inhab-
itants Of the burrow II has entered unlimited.
Now, In spite OF all this. when the ranchman
starts out to exterminate the vizcachas on his
place by filling up the holes, no is Obliged to
have the vicinity of the filled up holes patrollcd
every night by men and dogs for at least a full
week TO keep away the vlzcachas coming from
other communities on neishborinR ranches,
who would come and dig out the turied rodents
that could not dig themselves out. A vlzcacha
will travel a mile TO dig out an imprisoned
neighbor. To bury the rodents Is useless with
out patrolling their town for a week a%fterward.
As for other characteristics, tho vizcacha has
q fancy for trying It's teeth on any hard sub
stance II may find near its pasture and every
thing stone. jackknifc, stirrup-that a
man may leave In tho evening within It's range
will be found lying on top OF the dixie next
morning. II IL forever raising the dixie higher.
Being OF clearly nature, It alternately dusts
and combs itself with its feet. The dust
Ing Is a funny operation. The vizcacha lies
down on his back, brings his hind legs over to-
ward his head and then down TO the ground.
Then he begins with quick motions TO claw up
the dirt, throwing II into n cloud above him. in
the midst of which he gives himself u sudden
jerk In tho air and lands nimbly on his feet,
when he Ia ready to use the hairy brlstlc on his
feet to brush the dust from his coat. lie sands
himself to clean his hide, somewhat as sailors
and some women use sand In cleaning decks and
kitchen floors.
The vizcachas weigh from nine to fourteen
pounds; they are about the size of n New York
woodchuck, though some of the latter reach
twenty pounds. They are excellent eating, but
the plainsmen have the same prejudice against
them that Yankee plainsmen have against the
almost equally good prairie dog. Robes made
from their hides can be had In Buenos. and very
pretty robes they are. The robe maker, II one
can get acquainted with him, can generally tell
many interesting stories about the animals In
whose pelts he deals.
Like the prairie dog, the vizcacha has some
unwclcome visitors. Foxes and weasels almost
invariably live in the burrows Of the vizcaoha.
The three kinds of animals may be seen sitting
in apparent accord about the mouth of their
common home. But although the vizcacha is
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS realiy-heppy, the pre-
dacious beasts feed on the young of the rodents.
SO, too, do the owls that make their homes
there, while hawks and birds of like ik subsist
as these foxes and weasels do. II is said the old
vizcacha Is able to fight Off a fox. but is helpless
to protect the young ones which are brought
forth in litters Of two or three in early spring.
Then. too. there Is a swallow and another small
burrowing bird that take advantage OF tho wall
Of the burrows mouth to dig holes for nests,
while wasps, spiders, and a variety of bugs may
always DO found about them.
Fit be thought interesting that a tree-climb-
ing cat like the panther should flourish on the
treeless plainsof Patagonia, then It is remark
able that two kinds of the colored mans friend,