THB ACOUCHI. 



145 



hairs. (Fig. 93.) Its manners resemble those of the 

 agouti, and it also inhabits the woods of Guiana, but is 

 not by any means so common as that animal. M. D' Azara 

 was mistaken in asserting the acouchi to be identical 

 with the agouti ; and it 1s very obvious that he never 

 saw the former, for, if he had, the distinction could not 

 have escaped his notice ; indeed it does not appear to be 

 a native of Paraguay. Specimens of the acouchi, as well 

 as its skeleton, are in the museum of the Zool. Soc. 



93. — Acouchi 



Two living individuals (now the museum specimens 

 alluded to) were described in the ' Proceeds. Zool. Soc' 

 1830, byT. Bell, Esq., who obtained them from Guiana. 

 " Both individuals," he observes, " are mild and gentle 

 in their dispositions, but somewhat timid : they are, how- 

 ever, familiar with their master, and run to him when- 

 ever he enters the room in which they are kept, and 

 about which they are allowed to range during the day. 

 Their food is entirely vegetable ; they are especially 

 partial to nuts and almonds ; they drink but very little. 

 They are extremely cleanly, and take great pains to keep 

 their fur in order, in cleansing which they mutually assist 

 each other. They leap occasionally in play to a con- 

 siderable height, and frequently, in springing from the 



