XV THE CARPINCHO 491 
Pectinator spekii is the only representative of a genus not far 
removed from Ctenodactylus ; it is a smallish Rodent, 6 inches in 
length, exclusive of a rather bushy tail nearly 3 inches long. 
It comes from Abyssinia. It has somewhat the appearance of a 
Squirrel, which is heightened by the fact that when sitting the 
tail is arched over the back ; when running the tail is carried out 
straight. There are only four toes visible externally on both fore- 
and hind-limbs, but pollex and hallux exist in the skeleton, with 
a single phalanx each. There is only a single pair of mammae, 
and in correspondence with this but two or three young are 
produced at a time. The hind-feet have bristles very much like 
those of Ctenodactylus. The molars, however, are 4. There are 
twelve ribs, of which six reach the sternum. The latter is made 
up of six pieces, and the manubrium in its breadth anteriorly 
suggests that of the Vizcachas. The clavicles are present.’ 
Fam. 3. Caviidae.—This family, which includes the Cavies and 
HIG 240: 
Carpincho. Hydrochoerus capybara. x 7s. 
the Capybara, is entirely South American and West Indian in dis- 
tribution. It embraces animals of fair to large size, the Capybara 
1 Peters, Trans. Zool. Soc. vii. 1871, p. 397. 
