THE UTIA. 



107 



tails : — " Thoir intelligence appears to be 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- 

 deed, a great share of curiosity. At night they are very 

 wakeful, and the form of the pupils is indicative of noc- 

 turnal habits. The sense of hearing does not appear to 

 be so acuta as that of rabbits or 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 which 

 have been touched by animal substances, to which they 

 manifest the greatest repugnance. They agree perfectly 

 well together, and sleep close by each other. When 

 they are apart they call each other by a sharp cry, dif- 

 ferring little from that of a rat. Their voice, when 



