The careless horseman on the Pampas soon becomes disagreeably acquainted
with the existence of a little rodent--the bizcacha--into whose
closely-set burrows should his horse step, he will to a certainty find
himself pitched over his steed's head. It closely resembles a rabbit,
but with larger gnawing teeth and a longer tail. It has only three toes
behind, like the agouti. The creatures are seen in great numbers during
the evening seated on their haunches in front of their abodes,--from
which they seldom wander far,--gravely contemplating the passer-by.
When scampering out of danger, their elevated tails and short fore-legs
give them the appearance of large rats.
They have a curious habit of dragging every hard object they find to the
mouth of their burrows; round which bones of animals, stones, and hard
lumps of earth, are found, collected in large irregular heaps.
Although, no doubt, some good reason exists for this habit, it is
difficult to account for it. A gentleman told Mr Darwin, that having
dropped his watch one dark night, he was unable to find it; but
returning the following morning, and searching the neighbourhood of
every bizcacha burrow along the line of road, he at length discovered it
among a heap of rubbish.