Lamarck would have been delighted with this fact, had he known it, when speculating (probably with more truth than usual with him) on the gradually-ACQUIRED blindness of the Aspalax, a Gnawer living under ground, and of the Proteus, a reptile living in dark caverns filled with water; in both of which animals the eye is in an almost rudimentary state, and is covered by a tendinous membrane and skin.
(3/7.

"Philosoph.

Zoolog." tome 1 page 242.) In the common mole the eye is extraordinarily small but perfect, though many anatomists doubt whether it is connected with the true optic nerve; its vision must certainly be imperfect, though probably useful to the animal when it leaves its burrow.

In the tucu-tuco, which I believe never comes to the surface of the ground, the eye is rather larger, but often rendered blind and useless, though without apparently causing any inconvenience to the animal; no doubt Lamarck would have said that the tucu-tuco is now passing into the state of the Aspalax and Proteus.
Birds of many kinds are extremely abundant on the undulating grassy plains around Maldonado.

There are several species of a family allied in structure and manners to our Starling: one of these (Molothrus niger) is remarkable from its habits.