CCELOGENYS. 



COFFEA. 



F. Cuvier observes, that the Pacas are, among the Omnivorous 

 Rodents, what the Capybaras are amoug the Herbivorous section. The 

 first possess molars with roots distinct from their crowns, to the 

 number of 4 on each side of either jaw. Those of the upper jaw are 

 nearly of a size ; but, in the lower, they diminish gradually from the 

 last to the first. All the molars, before they have been subjected to 

 the process of mastication, present, on the upper surface of the crown, 

 4 tubercles, which more or less completely divide the tooth broadwise, 

 and are separated by three transverse furrows, more or less large or deep. 

 When the crown of the tooth is exposed to mastication, the top of 

 the tubercles begins to wear away, and the enamel, instead of forming 

 a sort of hood or cap, presents a series of riband-like foldings, the 

 outlines of which are conformable to the tubercles and furrows. In 

 proportion to the continuance of the abrasion, the tubercles are suc- 

 cessively effaced ; and, finally, nothing is to be seen but the enamel, 

 which hoops the tooth externally, and that which penetrates the 

 interior and is there complicated, the plaits going very deep, so that 

 the ribands of enamel, whose edges are exposed on the triturating 

 surface, change their appearance with the age of the animal, and ter- 

 minate by disappearing in a great measure. 



The Pacas approach the ( 'apy barns and the Agoutis most nearly, 

 and are closely allied to the latter by their general form and the 

 similarity of their organisation. Tlie dental and generative systems 

 in both are very nearly alike ; neither have clavicles, nor indeed has 

 the Capybara ; and though the Agouti has only three toes on the hind 

 f et, the two additional hind toes of the Paca are hardly more than 

 rudiments. The great differences consist in the zygomatic develop- 

 ment, the folding back of the skin under the zygomatic arch and 

 the consequent bluff appearance of the head the cheek-pouches, and 

 the fur. 



F. Cuvier records two species, C. mbniger and C. fulvn* ; but Baron 

 Cuvier, in the last edition of the 'Regne Animal," treats them as 

 varieties of the same species. 



C. Paca (Retigger), the Paca. It is the Mut Paca, Linnaeus ; Caria 

 Paca, Schreber ; C. tulmiger, F. Cuvier ; C. niyer, F. Cuvier ; Otteouera 

 platycephala, Harlan; Le Pag, D'Azara. 



IU general appearance reminds the observer of the Pachydermatous 

 animals, for it is thick-set and stubby. The legs are thick, the neck 

 short, the head heavy, the body rounded, the gait clumsy, but the 

 motions of the animal are prompt and sudden. All the feet have five 

 toes, which anteriorly have the ordinary proportions, but posteriorly 

 the analogues of the little toe and great toe are extremely short in 

 proportion to the rest, and almost rudimentary, like the upper or 

 lateral toes in the hog. The claws are conical, thick, and strong, and 

 proper for digging. The tail is reduced to a naked immoveable 

 tubercle, a few lines in length. The principal male organ is directed 

 backwards, and there is no external appearance of the testicles. The 

 external ear is moderate in size, rounded, and simple. There is 

 nothing particular about the eye, the pupil of which is round. The 

 nostrils, which are large and almost united, open transversely at the 

 nm/zle. The tongue is very soft, short, and thick. The upper lip is 

 divided, the interior of the mouth is furnished with cheek-pouches, 

 and, externally, the large area formed by the development of the 

 zygomatic arch is lined on its inner surface with a continuation of the 

 skin of the cheeks, which is reflected from the face, so as to form a 

 hollow pouch, of which there is no other example among mammi- 

 ferotu animals, and the use of which it is difficult to divine, if the 

 great development of the zygomatic arch be not destined to preserve 

 the true cheek-pouches (abajoues) from external shocks. Strong 

 whiskers spring from the sides of the muzzle, and from behind the 

 eye. The fur is composed of silky hairs, very short, very thin, and 

 very stiff, of a blackish-brown on all the upper parts of the body, 

 excepting four rows of parallel spots, which begin at the shoulders 

 and terminate at the buttocks : the spots of each row are so approxi- 

 mated, that when viewed in a particular direction they seem to form 

 an uninterrupted line, and the row nearest the belly is almost con- 

 founded with the colour of that part, which is white, as well as the 

 im<!er parts of the lower jaws, the internal surface of the limbs, and 

 the claws. Length of the body, from the occiput to the insertion of 

 the tail, 18 inches : length of the head, from the occiput to the end of 

 the muzzle, 5 inches. Height, to the shoulders 12 inches to the top 

 of the buttocks (train de derriere) 14 inches, French. (F. Cuvier.) 



This animal is better known as the Paca of zoologists generally, and, 

 afUr. the Capybara and Coypu, is one of the largest of the South 

 American Rodents. It is the Spotted Cavy of Pennant and Bewick, 

 the Pag of the Brazilians, Paig of the inhabitants of Paraguay, 

 Ourana of some of the tribes of* Guyana and Pakiri of others, the Pak 

 of the colonists of Cayenne, and the Water-Hare of those of Surinam. 

 In all these countries it is common, with the exception of Paraguay, 

 where, according to D'Azara, it is very rare. They formerly existed in 

 the islands of the West Indies. 



In a state of nature the habitation of the Paca is in low humid 

 foraatu, and in the neigh b<irhood of water. The animal digs a burrow 

 ' rabbit, but much less deep ; indeed it is so near the surface, 

 that the foot of the pedestrian often breaks through, and, sinking into 

 the tunnel, drives out the tenant. There are generally three issues 

 to a burrow, and the aperture of these the animal covers with dry 

 leaves and branches. To take it alive, the hunter stops two of these 



apertures, and digs into the third ; but when the penetralia are 

 i<:!<ii'-.l, the hapless besieged makes a most determined resistance, 

 fighting the enemy with ferocity, and trying to bite. When undis- 

 turbed, it often sits up and washes its head and whiskers with its two 

 fore paws, which it licks and moistens with its saliva at each ablution, 

 like a cat ; and with these fore paws, as well as with the hind ones, it 

 often scratches itself and dresses its fur. Though heavy and corpulent, 

 it can run with a good deal of activity, and often takes lively jumps. 

 It swims and dives with great adroitness, and its cry resembles the 

 grunting of a young pig. Its food consists of fruits and tender plants, 

 which it seeks in the night, hardly ever quitting its burrow in the day, 

 the strong light of which, as is the case with other nocturnal animals, 

 is oppressive to its eye. The planter often rues the visits made by 

 these midnight foragers to his sugar-canes. The female is said to 

 bring forth at the rainy season, and to produce but a single young one, 

 which stays a long time with the mother. The Pacas are very cleanly 

 creatures, never dropping their excrements near their dwellings, but 

 going to a considerable distance for that purpose. 



The Paca (Ccclogenys Paca}. 



In captivity, according to F. Cuvier, no animal can exhibit less 

 intelligence. When offended, it throws itself violently at the object 

 whii-h has displeased it, and then makes a grumbling, which breaks 

 out into a kind of barking ; and when it is not eating it is sleeping. 

 But it requires a soft and well-made bed ; and, to obtain this, it 

 collects with its mouth hay, herbage, straw, anything indeed that suits 

 its purpose, of which it makes a little heap, and then lies down in the 

 centre of it. This bed it never defiles, but goes to the extremity of 

 its cage the farthest removed from it, and constantly resorts to the 

 same spot for the same purpose. If, says F. Cuvier, it is but little 

 favoured on the side of intelligence, it appears on the other hand to 

 be recompensed by a large share of instinct, to judge, at least, by 

 appearances. Mr. Bennett, from his observation of one which lived 

 for some months in the Garden of the Zoological Society in the 

 Regent's Park, says that it is quiet and contented in captivity. 

 Buffon, who kept one for some time in his house, found it familiar 

 and mild. 



The flesh is stated to be excellent and of good flavour ; but as it is 

 very fat and rich, it soon cloys : it is prepared for cookery by being 

 scalded like a sucking pig. Piso gives the following character of its 

 merits for the table : " Came est tenera, pingui lardo non indigens, 

 si assetur, Bed inter epulas magnatum, sicut lepores et capreso in 

 Europa, habetur." Its skin ia of no value to the furrier ; but its 

 thickness might make it available in the useful arts. F. Cuvier 

 thinks that it would be possible to introduce this animal into our 

 European rural establishments, and that it would form a very good 

 acquisition in the department of domestic economy. 



6*. laticeps (Lund) is a fossil species founded upon a cranium from 

 the caverns of Brazil. In this species the surface of the frontal bone 

 and zygomatic arch are smooth. It also differs from the last species 

 in the infra-orbital opening being larger, the upper part of the bony 

 ring which incloses it narrower, and the zygoma is thrown more 

 boldly forwards. Dr. Lund distinguishes a second ppecies from the 

 same caverns, which he calls (J. major. It is much larger than the 

 last. Mr. Waterhouse says, " From the caverns above alluded to the 

 British Museum contains numerous remains referrible to the genus 

 Ctelogenyt. The most characteristic specimen among these is a consi- 

 derable portion of a skull, in which I can find no points which would 

 lead me to suppose it belonged to a species distinct from the common 

 Pte*." 



CCELOPTY'CHIUM, a genus of Spongiadv, proposed by Goldfuss, 

 for some fossils of the Chalk. 



CCENURUS. [ENTOZOA.] 



CCEREBA. [NKCTARINID*:.] 



COFFE'A, a Cinchonaceoxis genus, consisting of many species of 

 tropical berry-bearing shrubs, one of which, Cuffea Arabica, is cele- 

 brated for the agreeable stimulating effect of an infusion of its roasted 

 albumen. This substance, the coffee of commerce, is to that plant 

 what the flour is to corn, the white meat to a cocoa-nut, and the 



