Desmarest on Capromtys. 87 



I grant, however, that this genus will not be sufficiently estab- 

 lished until the arrangement of its teeth is known. 



I have dedicated the species to the zealous traveller that made 

 it known to me. 



With respect to the habits of the Utias in a wild state, I know 

 only that they are found in woods, that they climb trees with great 

 facility, and that they live on vegetables. 



In a domesticated state, in which those which I possess are liv- 

 ing, I have made the following remarks. 



Their intelligence appears to me developed to as great a degree 

 as that of rats and squirrels ; much more so than that of rabbits 

 and guinea pigs. They have in particular a great share of curiosity. 



They appear to be very wakeful at night, which is indeed indi- 

 cated by the form of the pupils. 



The sense of hearing does not appear to be so fine as that of rab" 

 bits and hares. 



Their nostrils are incessantly in motion, especially when they 

 smell any new object. 



Their taste is sufficiently delicate to enable them to distinguish 

 and reject vegetables when they are given to them, wliich have 

 been touched by animal substances, to which they manifest the 

 greatest repugnance. 



They agree perfectly well together, and sleep close to each 

 other. When they are apart, they call each other by a sharp cry, 

 differing little from that of a rat, and their voice, when they ex- 

 press pleasure, is a low soft kind of grunting. They scarcely 

 ever quarrel except for food, as when one piece of fruit only is 

 given for thein both ; in that case, one seizes and runs away with 

 it, until the other is able to take it from him. 



They sometimes play for a long time together, holding them- 

 selves upright, in the manner of Kangaroos, firmly supported upon 

 the broad soles of their feet, and the base of the tail, and striking 

 «ach other with the hands, until one of them finding a wall or 

 some other body against whicii to support liimself, acquires addi- 

 tional power and gains an advantage. They never bite each oth«r. 



They manifest the greatest indifference to other animals, pay- 

 ing no attention ercii to cats. 



