131 



HYSTRICID^E. 



HYSTRICID^E. 



wish to express that the Agoutis (Dasyproctina) in their characters, 

 partake of those of the three groups to which they are approximated ; 

 that certain members of the section Echimyina lead off to the 

 Jfystricina, whilst others approach more nearly to the Chinchillina ; 

 and lastly, that the Octodons are nearly related on the one hand to 

 the Erhimyina, and on the other to the Chinchillina: they bear the 

 same kind of relationship to the Echimys group as do the Arvicoloe 

 to the True Rats." 



The following is the character of the sub-family Cariina : Molar 

 teeth rootless, divided by folds of enamel so as to form lobes having 

 acute angles ; the series of molars on opposite sides of the upper jaw 

 converging, and nearly meeting in front ; incisor teeth comparatively 

 short, those of the lower jaw not being extended backwards as far as 

 the springing of the angular portion, or descending ramus ; four toes 

 to the fore feet, and three to the hind ; tail wanting, or rudimentary ; 

 upper lip entire ; a strongly-developed horizontal ridge on the outer 

 surface of the lower jaw ; the angular portion of this jaw produced 

 much beyond the eondyloid portion, descending below the level of 

 the dental portion, and with a curved lower margin; clavicles 

 wanting. 



The Cavies have almost invariably been associated with the Agoutis 

 (Dasyprocta and Catlogenyg), and frequently the animals of both 

 divisions have been linked together under the sectional name Subungu- 

 lata, by the more recent writers, who thus adopt Illiger's name for 

 the section and his views regarding it. 



The nature of the affinity which exists between these two groups 

 is >>y no means so near as is generally supposed. 



Both groups belong to the same great family ; and besides the cha- 

 racters which are peculiar to this family, the species of the genus 

 Dan/procta maybe said to approach the Cavies, from the circumstance 

 of their having the game number of toes to their feet, and being almost 

 (or entirely) destitute of a tail ; but this is weak evidence in favour of 

 the supposition that there exists a very near affinity between the genera 

 associated under the name Cariina and those arranged under the head 

 Datyproclina, such an affinity, in fact, as is indicated by the arrange- 

 ment of these two groups in a section apart. A certain degree of 

 importance must be given to the characters thus referred to, when we 

 find them combined with numerous other peculiarities exhibited in 

 the structure of the teeth, skull, and skeleton, as in the Caviina, but 

 evidence of a distinct minor type, in the structure of these parts will 

 be educed when we treat of the Dasyproctina. 



Dolichotii, Desmarest; Mara, Lesson. The limbs are long, the 

 ears fully half as long as the head, pointed, broad at the base, and 

 deeply emarginated behind ; tail very short, and recurved ; metatarsus 

 with the anterior half clothed with hairs on the under surface ; the 

 hinder half as well as the heel, naked ; molar teeth small, compared 

 with the bulk of the skull ; the three foremost of the upper jaw 

 and the three hinderinost of the lower, divided by folds of enamel, 

 each into two equal lobes ; the last molar of the upper jaw three-lobed 

 as well as the foremost of the lower jaw. 



D. Patachanica, the Patagonian Cavy ; Caria Patachonica, Shaw ; 

 Daiyprocta Patachonica, Desmarest ; Chloromyi Patayoniciu, Lesson ; 

 Mara ifagdlanica, Lesson; Dolichotit Patagonica, Wagner. Fur 

 dense and crisp ; on the upper parts of the head and body gray, on 

 the sides of a yellow rust -colour; chin, throat, and abdomen, 

 white ; rump black, but with a broadish white transverse band crossing 

 immediately above the tail ; limbs for the most part rusty yellow, but 

 grayish in front. It inhabits Patagonia, ranging from about 48 30' to 

 37 30' S. lat., on the east coast, and extending into La Plata as far north 

 as Hendoza. 



" The Patagonian Cavy," Mr. Darwin observes, " is found only 

 where the country has a desert character. It is a common feature in 

 the landscape of Patagonia to see in the distance two or three of 

 these Cavies hopping one after the other in a straight line over the 

 gravelly plains, thinly clothed by a few thorny bushes and a withered 

 herbage. 



" Near the coast of the Atlantic the northern limit of the species is 

 formed by the Sierra Tapalguen, in 37" 30' S. lat., where the plains 

 rather suddenly become greener, and more humid. The limit cer- 

 tainly depends upon this change, since near Mendoza (33 30') four 

 degrees farther northward, where the country is very sterile, the 

 animal again occurs. 



" Its southern limit is between Ports Desire and St. Julian about 

 48 30' S. lat. From the same source we learn the following parti 

 culars relating to this Hare-like Cavy. It is a burrowing animal, 

 but when found in the same districts with the Viscacha it will avail 

 itoelf of the excavations of this latter animal for a retreat. The Pata- 

 gonian C'avies wander at times to great distances from their homes, 

 and usually two or three are seen together on these occasions. The 

 animal in its mode of running more nearly resembles the Rabbit than 

 tti" Hare, and though its limbs are long it does not run very fast ; it 

 seldom sq-.iats after the manner of the Hare, is very shy and watchful, 

 and feeds by day ; and in connection with this circumstance I may 

 mention that the eyes, like those of the Kangaroos, are defended from 

 the direct rays of the sun, by well-developed eye-lashes, which is not 

 the cane with ordinary Cavieg. 

 " It generally produces two young at a birth, and brings forth in 



its burrow : its flesh is white when cooked, but rather dry and tasteless. 

 The long legs and rather long erect ears, combined with the general form 

 of the head, and the short recurved tail, have caused this animal to 

 be very generally mistaken for the Hare, by casual observers ; and we 

 have pointed out certain other characters in which the resemblance 



further carried out ; it nevertheless is a Cavy in all the more essen- 

 tial details of structure. 



" For size it greatly surpasses the common Hare, full-grown indi- 

 viduals weighing from twenty to thirty pounds, and indeed the Pata- 

 gonian Cavy must rank amongst the largest of the Rodent tribe, though 

 far surpassed by its aquatic congener, the Capybara." 



Cama, Klein ; Ancema, F. Cuvier ; Les Cobayes, Cuvier. The limba 

 short and the ears likewise short ; feet naked beneath ; molar teeth 

 nearly of equal size, each molar with two principal lobes. 



C. rupestris, Rock-Cavy ; Kerodon Moco, F. Cuvier ; A', cincreus, 

 Geoffroy ; Cerodon rupe&tris, Wagner. Nails of the toes short, 

 obtusely pointed, and scarcely projecting beyond the large fleshy pads 

 with which the toes are terminated ; fur soft, its general hue gray, 

 tinted with rufous on the hinder part of the back; throat white,' 

 chest whitish ; abdomen white suffused with pale orchreous yellow ; 

 sides of the face tinted with rufous ; hinder part of the posterior 

 limbs suffused with chestnut red ; fore lej, r s and tarsi whitish, tinted 

 with rufous. The Rock-Cavy inhabits Brazil in rocky situations. 



According to Prince Maximilian it inhabits the interior of Brazil, 

 and is confined to rocky districts, where it seeks its retreat in holes 

 amongst the fragments of the rocks. It is frequently met with at 

 Belmoute, Rio Pardo, and Rio de St. Francisco (all nearly under the 

 16th parallel of south latitude), being found near the rivers, but always 

 in the higher parts of their course. Its flesh is said to be well flavoured, 

 on which account it is sought by the Indians, to whom it is known 

 by the name of ' Hoko,' and by the Portuguese it is called ' Moko.' 

 The C. rupettrit is superior in size to most other Cavies, stands higher 

 on its legs, and is remarkable in its group for the comparative softness 

 of its fur, and the structure of the nails of its toes. 



C. Spixii, Spix's Cavy. Incisor teeth yellow ; general colour of the 

 animal gray, with a somewhat indistinct brownish tint on the back ; 

 the space between the eye and the ear whitish, a white patch behind 

 each ear, and the throat and abdomen likewise white. It inhabits 

 Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, and the neighbourhood of the Amazonas. 



The yellow colour of the incisor seeth, and the general gray hue of 

 the fur, combined with a distinct white patch behind, and a second 

 in front of each ear, are the leading characteristics oi the species. 



C. Bolivienyis, Bolivian Cavy ; Galea Musteloides, Meyen. Incisor 

 teeth of an orange-yellow colour; general hue of the fur gray, with a 

 very faint yellow tinge ; throat and abdomen white ; feet whitish. It 

 inhabits Bolivia, occuring only at great elevations. Meyen informs 

 us that the lofty plains on the pass of Tarna to the Lake of Titicaca, 

 as well as those of Tajori (on the Andes 18 S. lat.) are inhabited by 

 immense numbers of a small animal, wliich burrows and so undermines 

 the ground, that every step of the horse was attended with danger. 

 The animal was so shy that he was unable to procure a specimen ; and 

 ind< ed it was only seen from a distance. It is described as having a 

 long and slender body, of a brownish red colour on the upper parts 

 and pale on the under. Its length without including the tail appeared 

 to be about eight inches. To this animal Meyeu gives the name Galea 

 Mnsteloides. 



The characters of the genus Galea are derived from a skull found by 

 Meyen at the entrance of one of the burrows of the little animal just 

 referred to, and judging from Meyen's figures and descriptions it pro- 

 bably belongs to the Rodent named C. Boliviensls. 



C. auslralis, the Southern Cavy ; Keredon Kingii, Bennett, Incisor 

 teeth white ; head short, tarsi long ; fur rather soft, its general hue 

 gray, by no means dark ; the eye edged with white, a whitish spot 

 behind the ear ; the chin and edge of the lower jaw likewise white. 

 It inhabits Patagonia, from about the 39th parallel of latitude down 

 to the Strait of Magalhaens. This little gray Cavy according to Mr. 

 Darwin is common along the coast of Patagonia, from Rio Negro to 

 the Strait of Magalhaens. 



It is very tame, commonly feeds by day, and is said to bring forth 

 two young at a birth. At the Rio Negro it frequents in great num- 

 bers the bottom of old hedges, and at Port Desire it takes up its 

 abode amongst the ruins of the old Spanish buildings. 



M. D'Orbigny observed the southern Cavy as far north as 39 S. lat., 

 which it appears is its extreme range in that direction ; and this 

 author states that it lives in families, and digs deep burrows in the 

 ground, preferring sandy declivities which are more or less overgrown 

 with bushes; its burrows are said to have several outlets. The food 

 of the southern Cavy consists of seeds and green herbage, and it has 

 been observed to ascend trees to feed upon their fruits. 



C.Aperea (Linnams), Restless Cavy, or Guinea-Pig (Aperea Brazilim- 

 ribut, Marcgrave ?). Domesticated it is called C. Cubaya by Marcgrave, 

 Schreber, and Desmarest ; Mua Porcdlus, Linn. ; Variegated Cavy, 

 Shaw ; Cochon d'Inde, Buffon. The Wild Guinea-Pig has the incisors 

 white ; fur long aud somewhat coarse, on the upper part of the sides 

 and body distinctly pencilled with black and dirty yellow ; chest gray- 

 brown, throat and abdomen pale dirty-yellow, or sometimes brown- 

 gray. It inhabits the banks of the Rio Plata, and extends northward 

 into Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil. 



