Till-: 'M/') AM //| 



477 



bunks of rivers. Their <l< >mi.-ilt are excavated in the ground, hut are at no great 



are remarkable for the admirable Mate of cleanliness in which ih.-\ an- preserved by the 

 inhabitants. Tli.- burrow - ar.- ..fi.-n so ^hallow that their roofs ramiiit qpoct MjsuJN-rin- 

 cninU-nt weight, and will give way under the ii.- ; .d of m.m or h.< 



When I.K.|K..|\ !.,,, 1 by being scalded and roast*!, th- il.-si, ,,f the Paoa is much 



.sr.... m .-d. aMhoii-h i! is I.M, ii. I, :m.l :.,: '..,;..,-. ;., , ,,,..:-.,: .,,,.. p. , , ,,,, Hie fur i.s ol 

 little value, IMMML: -hoi i and harsh, BO thai tli.- -Um of the Paca la useless until it haa been 

 .l.-prixixl of hair ami tann.^l. The l'a.-a i-> ( .nly iniNlenitely intellip-nt ; and when in niptivity 

 aj.jH-ai>. like th.- ap'Uti. to lose a gre-.it jKirtion of the l.iL-ht int.-lligenoe whirl, fharac-terUni 

 it- wild natuiv. It a|.]-ar> to lake great cane of it> fin. ; ,n,| is :l > fa>lidi<.u- in it- t..il.-t as the 

 doiii.-tii-rat. washing it.vlf in th.- xun.- manner, and combing il.vlf .-arefullx with tl,. 

 of its hind and fore feet. 



Xrll 





FKVV persons, on seeing a OAPYBARA for the first time, would he inclined to rhw it with 

 the animals to whirh it is so nearly related. The jjreat si/.-, the harsh, coarse hair, more like 

 the bristles of a hog than the soft, delicate fur which clothes the p-nerality of rodent animals. 

 the hoof-like toes, and the heavy, dimisy liearimrof the animal, arv so swinish in appearance 

 that any onlinarj- jqiwtator might well ima-in.- that h.- s;iw before him a very curious example 



(<f the wild-hogs. In allusion to tl xternal r.- ml. lan.-e which this animal bears to th- 



swine, it has reeeiv.>d the nan f Hydrochn-rus. or Water Ho>r. It is a native of Sontheni 



America, and has a rather wide range. 



The Caj .y 1-a ru is the largest of all the living rodent animals, rather .-\, e,-iing three feet 

 In total length, and U-ing so Imlkily made that when it walks it abdomen nearly touches the 

 ground. The inn//!.- of this animal is heavy and Hunt, the eye* .-, n . set hiirh in tin- head, and 

 iin- m<Ml.-p.ite in >i/.e. the tail i- wantintr. and the toes an- ]irtially eonn.N-t.Hl toother by a 



development of the skill. The color of the < 'a ( ,\ I .;, |-| js ni tiler itld.-tel Illill:lte. owing to tile 



manner in which the hairs are market I with Hack and \.-llow, eo that the general idea which 



