2IO NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



early as 1829; it was some months in the menagerie, 

 but died during a spell of severe weather at the 

 beginning of the winter. Frederic Cuvier has 

 given an account of the paca in captivity, in which 

 condition, he says, no animal can discover less 

 intelligence. It wears, indeed, *' the white flower of 

 a blameless life," for when not eating it is sleeping. 

 When irritated, however, it throws itself at the 

 offending object and makes a grumbling noise ending 

 in barking; this is almost the only manifestation of 

 intellect shown by the dull-witted creature. 



The interest attaching to the paca is anatomical 

 and academic rather than bionomic and practical ; 

 certainly Cuvier did recommend its introduction into 

 Europe as a delicacy for the table, but roast paca 

 is not yet included in the menu at the Carlton. 



" Remote, unfriended, melancholy, slow," 



would perhaps best describe the present species ; from 

 the museum standpoint, however, the remarkable 

 dilated hollowed face and sculptured skull, the 

 curious spotted fur and the colour theories it 

 suggests, are both interesting and important. 



