The naturalist''''s library V18

TllilK lATWIiiAISir*^ JLIUMAttY mi\mmA]L'iA -ft ^'•f'e hoi'i,ii of M' S" hemai'" i^AlLIL.ASJ Einnuy.;! ,,>, ,„ (^i 1* HA.4.U Plate • ^^^ ^^^ ^ ^ XXX and NeTvfoundland Dog, Plate ^JCXXI Skulls of Hy.-ena, Fox, Portrait of XXIX • • • • • • T\*>tyU,tt rUie in tJii» V2 GUARAXA AGUARA FOX Cerdocyon guarcuta PLATE The Guaraeha There XXVIII of Northern Brazil are several varieties or races of the Brazilian and Paraguay Guaraeha Both Prince Maximilian of Wied and Dr Rengger classed them among true foxes, but the last mentioned naturalist admits that it can be tamed, and with superior powers of scent is used in hunting, though with but indifferent docility It is a dangeuous companion among poultry, when unobserved ; and the Doctor reports the eyes, though round, when turned against the full light of day, to become vertically slit as in true foxes ; yet they not stir abroad in dark nights It is to this species in particular we allude when remarking upon the singular propensity manifested by them to steal and secrete particular objects and pocket-handkerchiefs have been carried off in this manner, and subsequently found in bushes at some distance bridles The first variety is we believe represented among the original drawings of Prince John Maurice of Nas•sau-Siegen^ already mentioned, and therein named J v GUAR AX A aGUARA FOX 263 Guaraxa, which Professor Lichtenstein, in his careful review of the works of Marcgrave and Piso, compared with the above drawings, considers to be synonymous with d'Azara's Aguarachay In form and stature the Guaraxa is very like the Mesoleucus, the head and limbs appearing equally small and light, when compared with the volume of body and tail, both being covered with loose and rather is however much longer; the and forehead sooty grey ; the nose to the eyes, the back of the ears, and extremities from coarse hair, the tail nose, cheeks, the joints downwards belly, sides, sepia hams, and tail brown ; the neck, back, yellowish white, darker on the back flanks and hams, and waved on the neck, back, and croup with indistinct bars of sepia brown, which appears likewise in similar forms on tlie tail, sooty tip where there are about tliree bars and a CRABODAGO AGUARA FOX Cerd