HISTRICID.T3. 1 1 1 



The coypu remained unknown to the scientific world, 

 while thousands of its skins, under the name of Racoonda, 

 for more than forty years had been annually imported 

 into Europe, for the sake of the fine under-fur, which, 

 like that of the musquash and beaver, is extensively used 

 in the manufacture of hats. 



This animal is gregarious and aquatic, residing in 

 burrows which it excavates along the banks of rivers : 

 and in these burrows the female produces and rears her 

 young, from three or four to seven in number, to which 

 she manifests great attachment. In the Chonos Archi- 

 pelago, according to Mr. Darwin, " these animals, instead 

 of inhabiting fresh water, live exclusively in the bays or 

 channels which extend between the innumerable small 

 islets of that group." " The inhabitants of Chiloe, who 

 sometimes visit this archipelago tor the purpose of fish- 

 ing, state that these animals do not live solely on vege- 

 table matter, as is the case with those inhabiting rivers, 

 but that they sometimes eat shell-fish. The coypu is 

 said to be a bold animal, and to fight fiercely with the 

 dogs employed in chasing it. Its flesh when cooked is 

 white and good to eat. An old female procured on these 

 islands weighed between ten and eleven pounds." An 

 extensive trade in the skins of these animals is carried 

 on at Buenos Ayres, where they are improperly called 

 " Nutrias," or otters. In captivity the coypu soon be- 

 comes gentle and attached ; and is evidently ))leased with 

 marks of attention from those with whom it is familiar. 

 Length of adult male, one foot eleven inches, exclusive 

 of the tail, which is one foot three inches. 



Family— HISTRICID^, (or Porcupines). 



The porcupines, a spine-clad family, are divided into 

 the genera Hystrix, Erethizon, Synetheres, &c., and are 

 respectively distributed over Europe and North Asia, 

 Africa, India and its islands, and North and South 

 America. All the porcupines have the molars four in 

 each jaw on each side ; nearly equal in size, and fur- 

 nished with distinct roots; when worn the surfaces 



