Ol VIEW OF THE FAUNA OF BRAZIL 



I naturally place at the head of the rodents the largest yet 

 known — the Kapivar. It is spread over all the warm parts 

 of eastern South America, and its amphibious habits partially 

 protect it from the fate to which it is doomed in consequence 

 of its depredations on the corn-fields. There is but one known 

 species of this genus, — the Hydrochoerus Capihara. 



The next in size and abundance is the Paca, — Ccelogenys 

 Paca. This is much prized for its flesh, and its numbers 

 have in consequence sensibly decreased in many places. Its 

 colour varies through all shades, from a light yellow-brown 

 to a black-brown. I confess that I cannot, from my own ex- 

 perience, affirm a distinction between Coel. fulvus and Ccel. 

 fuscus ; and the Brazilians, who have a remarkably good eye 

 for permanent marks of distinction, and who often perceive 

 specific differences where a naturalist can see only varieties, 

 are unanimous in recognizing but one species of Paca. The 

 same is the case with the Gutia [Dasyprocta Aguti), and the 

 Perea (Cavia Aperea), — the only species of their respective 

 genera in those parts of Brazil which I have visited. Of the 

 genus Lepus there is but one species [Lep. Tapeti), of an in- 

 termediate character between the rabbit and the hare, though 

 in its habits it agrees best with the latter. There is likewise 

 but a single species of squirrel (Sciurus (Bstuafis): and finally 

 the list closes with an animal [Sphiggurus spinosa^ F. Cuv.), 

 which, from its sluggishness and awkwardness, would ere this 

 have been nearly extinct, had it not been provided by nature 

 with a formidable cuirass, by which it is protected fi:om all 

 its enemies. 



Such is the catalogue of the rodents hitherto known and' 

 described as inhabiting this district ; but the number which 

 has escaped the observation of naturalists is still greater, and 

 as they fill a distinguished part in the history of the inhabit- 

 ants of these caverns, it is important that the reader should 

 be made acquainted with them. 



I begin with the genus Echimys, or spiny rat, of which 

 there are four species in these parts, all different from those 

 of Paraguay and Guiana. The largest of them is about the 

 size of the Perea, while the others are not larger than our 

 common house-rat. They are nocturnal animals, passing the 

 day in subterranean holes in the woods, and feeding not only 

 on frogs, but on insects, the wings and elytra of which are 

 seen strewn outside their holes. They present several pe- 

 culiarities in their internal structure ; but on the whole ap- 

 proach nearest to the porcupine {Hystrix), which they serve 

 to connect, in many points, with the cavies, and especially 

 with the genus Dasyprocta ; while in occasional features they 



