THE DUSKY PACA. 



is: 



The Dusky Paca. 



This species, according to Cuvier, is identical with 

 the fulvous paca ; but we have examined the skuils, and 

 tind them different. In the dusky paca the bones of the 

 skull are smooth, and the zygomatic arches less inordi- 

 nately developed. The general colour of the dusky paca 

 is brownish black, with four lateral rows of white spots, 

 which betrin on the shoulders and terminate on the but- 

 tocks. The lowest line is almost confounded with the 

 white of the under surface. The sides of the lower ja ,v, 

 the throat, and chest are also white. Total length of 

 head and body, about two feet ; average height fourteen 



89. — Dusky Paca. 



inches. (Fig. 89.) These animals are natives of the 

 whole of the eastern portion of South America, from 

 Surinam to Paraguay, and formerly existed also in some 

 of the islands of the West Indies. Forests in the vici- 

 nity of water ; wooded, marshy places ; and borders of 

 rivers, are their favourite localities : they inhabit burrows, 



