Page:A history of Chile.djvu/452

 4o6 A HISTORY OF CHILE in the country as agriculturists, long ago destroyed the wild beasts. There are seven species of cheiroptera, mostly bats, twelve species of carnivora, embracing four felines, three foxes, one weasel, two polecats, the nutria and otter, six species of phocidce, one marsupial {didelphys elegans), twelve genera and twenty-five species of ro- dents (twelve being mice), the chinchilla and its co- geners and a species of rabbit, two species of edentata {^dasypus and pichiciego, the latter rare and peculiar to Chile), three ruminants, the huanaco, and two deer, (the pudu and huemut). Four species of the ceiacea abound, two dolphins, the sperm whale and right whale. Per- haps the most interesting of the mammals are the phocidm. The phoca lupina, closely resembles the com- mon seal, the difference being principally in its size and color. The phoca elephantica (Jame or sea-elephant), is frequently twenty feet in length. It has short tusks and a sort of trunk on its nose, which, with its size, gives it some resemblance to the elephant. The sea- hog and sealion are so called because of faint resem- blance to those animals. The forests are usually quiet, though there are many kinds of birds. The chuca is an interesting spe- cies, being the Indian bird of ill-omen. If his merry note rings out to the right of the traveler, he is cheered on his way; if, however, the shrill cry is on the left, he turns back and avoids danger. There are many species of the raptores— condors, vultures, hawks and owls — and of the incessores. Parrots with beautiful plumage and pigeons flit through the forests. The families of grallatores and natatores are represented by numerous species. The choros is a peculiar kind of oyster, and is used by the inhabitants for food. Those in Talcahuano Bay