Catalogue of Birds, fyc. 89 



When they climb, which they do with great ease, they assist 

 themselves with the base of their tail, as a support, and the same 

 in descending. In certain positions, on a stick for example, the 

 tail serves as a balance to preserve the equilibrium. 



They often raise themselves to a listening posture, sitting erect, 

 with the hands hanging down, like rabbits and hares. 



In eating they employ sometimes both, at other times one only 

 of their hands. The latter happens when the substance they are 

 holding is small enough to be held between their fingers and the 

 tubercle at the base of the thumb. 



Such are the observations which I have been able to make upon 

 these animals, discovered three centuries ago, and the existence of 

 which has been entirely unknown since that period. 



When either of the individuals in my possession dies, I shall 

 communicate its internal organization, and thus complete the de- 

 scription of this interesting species. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE l. 



Fig. 1 . Capromys Furnieri, half the natural size. 



2. The muzzle, nat. size. 



3. The under part of the left fore-foot, nat. size. 



4. hind ditto, nat. size. 



5. Portion of the tail enlarged, to shew the disposition of the scales 



and hairs which cover that part. 



Aiit. XIII. — Catalogue of Birds, and of Terrestrial and 

 Fluviatile Molluscce, found in the vicinity of Geneva. 



Dear Sir, 



The accompanying catalogues are extracted from a little 

 work entitled, "Essai statistique sur le Canton de Geneve ;" the list 

 ©f the Birds is by Prof. Necker, and that of the Terrestial and 

 Fluviatile Molluscae by Prof. Jurine ; conceiving that such cata- 

 logues tend to advance our knowledge of the mode in which ani- 



