88 



THE GNAWERS 



are perhaps the most common, the latter forming popular 

 game for sportsmen. The squirrels migrate sometimes, 

 but not with any regularity. At certain seasons a migrat- 

 ing instinct seems to de- 

 velop, and large bodies have 

 been seen moving in a given 

 direction, swimming streams, 

 and doubtless seeking fresh 

 feeding grounds. 



The guinea pig (Fig. 69) 

 is a native of South Amer- 

 ica, but has been carried all 

 Its near relatives are the cavies. 

 The last named is the 



Fig. 6g. — Guinea Pig. 



round the world as a pet 



the agoutis, and the capybara 



largest of the gnawers, resembling a small pig, but having 



huge, chisel-like incisors. An interesting water-loving 



form of South America, at home in either salt or fresh 



water, is myopotamus (Fig. 70). It suggests that most 



Fig. 70. — Myopotamus. 



