The Rodents, or Gnawing Animals 



163 



The CAPYBARA is the largest of all 

 rodents. This species is, in fact, a gigantic 

 water-guinea-pig. It is found in all the 

 great rivers of South America, from the 

 Orinoco to the La Plata. It swims as well 

 as a water-rat, though it is as large as a 

 small pig. Tt feeds on reeds, water-plants, 

 and grass. A capital photograph of this 

 animal appears on page 146. 



PIKAS, HARES, AND RABBITS. 



^^^ataa^jm. The last two families of the Rodents 



I l^nF -*'" ' ' 



|w-_. #a!P have a small pair of rudimentary incisor 



' .Mt . . ' k i ^,*- "" teeth behind the large ones in the upper 



jaw. The PIKAS, or CALLING-HARES, resemble 

 the marmot tribe in general appearance. 

 Their heads are short, their ears rounded, 

 and, being tailless, they still less resemble 

 the common hare ; but their dentition 

 marks them as allied. One species, about 

 9 inches long, is found in Siberia ; and 

 another, only 7 inches long, in the Rocky 

 Mountains. The former has a habit of 

 cutting grass and storing it in small stacks 

 outside its hole for winter use ; the Rocky 

 Mountain species carries its hay into its 

 burrows. 



The HARES are a widely distributed 



group. They are found from the north of Scotland (where the grey mountain species 



turns white in winter) to the south of India, in South Africa, and across the continent 



of Asia to Japan. The MOUNTAIN-HARE takes the place of the brown species in Scandinavia, 



Northern Russia, and Ireland ; it is rather smaller, and has shorter ears and hind legs. 

 As early as 54 B.C., Caesar, in 



his account of Britain, writes that 



the COMMON HARE was kept by the 



ancient Britons as a pet, but not 



eaten by them. It was protected by 



the Normans in the second list, or 



schedule, of animals reserved for 



sport. The first list included the 



Beasts of the Forest, the second 



the Beasts of the Chase, of which 



the hare was one of the first. The 



word " chase " has here a technical 



meaning, by which was understood 



an open park, or preserved area, 



midway in dignity between a forest 



and an enclosed park. " Hare parks " 



were also made, perhaps the most 



recent being that made at Bushey 



for the amusement of the sovereign 



when at Hampton Court Palace. The 



Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co ] [Parson's Green. 



PATAGONIAN CAVY. 



This large species of cavy has been acclimatised successfully both in 

 England and in France. 



By permission of Professor 



, ,.-, , 



WOOD-HARE. 



[New York. 



This is one of the forms intermediate between the hares and rabbits. 



