728 RODENTIA. 



the toes are partially connected together by a development of the skin. 

 The color of the Capybara is rather indeterminate, owing to the manner 

 ill which the hairs are marked with black and yellow, so that the general 

 idea which its coat presents is a dingy, blackish-gray, with a tinge of 

 yellow. The hairs are rather long, and fall heavily over the body. The 

 incisor teeth are of enormous dimensions, and the molars are very 

 curiously formed, presenting some analogy to those of the elephant. 



It is a water-loving animal, and not only swims well, but is a good 

 diver. It is gregarious, being generally found in small herds upon the 

 banks of the streams. 



GENUS CAVIA. 



Of the nine species into which the genus is divided, one is found west 

 of the Andes in Peru, the others are distributed from Brazil to the Straits 

 of Magellan. The common name Guinea Pig is quite a misnomer, as 

 they are not pigs, and are not found in Guinea. 



The Guinea Pig, Cavia cobaga (Plate LIX), is so well known, as 

 hardly to require description. In their native wilds these pretty crea- 

 tures lead a nocturnal life, and eitlier dig out burrows for themselves, or 

 find a retreat among the herbage. In captivity they eat bread, roots, 

 vegetables, and grasses. It is often thought that they never drink, but 

 this is a mistake. The color is very variable, but is generally composed 

 of white, red. and black in patches. Their domestication dates back to a 

 very distant period. This fact may at least be inferred from their being 

 marked by large black and yellow patches on a white ground, a pecu- 

 liarity of color which they presented even before their introduction into 

 Europe in the middle of the sixteenth century. 



GENUS DOLECHOTIS. 



The Patagonian Cavy or Mara, Dohclwtis Patagonicas, is an animal 

 which is remarkably swift for a short distance, but is so easil}' fatigued 

 that it can be run down by a man on horseback. It is more tameable 

 than the agouti, and is often ke])t in a state of domestication. It is gen- 

 erally found in couples, a male and his mate occupying the same " form." 

 It does not seem to burrow, nor to keep so close to its retreat as the 

 agouti, but is fond of crouching in a form like our common hare. It is 

 about thirty inches in length, and about nineteen inches high at tiie 

 crupper, which is the most elevated part of the animal. At the shoulder 



