THE CAVIES. 



147 



such as hedgerows made of the agave and opnntia, or 

 sand hillocks ; and again marshy "^places covered with 

 aquatic plants, the latter apj)earing to be its i'avourite 

 haunt. Where the soil is dry it makes a burrow, but 

 where otherwise it lives concealed amidst the herbage. 

 These animals generally come out to feed in the evening, 

 and are then tame ; but if the day be gloomy they make 

 their appearance in the moi-ning. They are said to be 





94,— Teeth of Guii 



very injurious to young trees. An old male killed at 

 Maldonado weighed 1 lb. 3 oz." Mr. Darwin observed 

 that in this animal the attachment of the fur to the skin 

 is very slight. Possessing but little intelligence and 

 very timid, the aperea is nevertheless tamed without any 

 difficulty. Azara, who kej)t one, remarks that, though 

 he took no pains to make it familiar, it manifested no 

 fear when in his presence, and seemed quite unconcerned. 



