8 



Crearfurp nf flatttral 



in abundance. Some of the Agamida met 

 with in India, South America, and Australia, 

 are very curious ; but so numerous are the 

 species, that we cannot here give more than 

 a description of their general characteristics. 

 ! [See MOLOCH.] 



AGAMI.or GOLD-BREASTED TRUM- 

 PETER. (Psophia crepitans.) This in- 

 teresting bird is about the size of a pheasant 

 or large fowl ; has long legs, and a long neck, 

 but a very short tail, consisting of twelve 

 black feathers, over which the rump-plumes 

 hang droopingly. It inhabits the forests of 

 South America, where it is found in nume- 

 rous flocks : it runs swiftly, and when pur- 

 sued, trusts to its legs rather than its wings. 

 When domesticated, this bird is a pattern of 

 fondness and fidelity ; arid is so jealous of 

 its master's caresses, that it attacks the dogs 

 and other animals who venture near him. It 

 is sometimes used to protect domestic poultry 

 from the attacks of birds of prey. 



AGATHISTEGUES. A family of Cepha- 

 lapodous Mollusca, in which the cells are 

 gathered together in small numbers, and 

 heaped up in a globular shape. 



AGEISnOSUS. A genus of Mai acoptery- 

 gious Abdominal fishes, belonging to the 

 Siluruke. 



AGGREGATA. The name given to cer- 

 tain shell-less Mollusca, which are collected 

 together in a common enveloping organized 

 substance containing numerous compart- 

 ments, from each of which a distinct occu- 

 nt sends forth a circle of organs to collect 

 3d, which, after assimilation, is carried by 

 a common and continuous system of vessels 

 for the support and enlargement of the com- 

 mon dwelling. 



AGLAURA. A genus of Dorsibranchiate 

 Annelides, distinguished by having nume- 

 rous jaws, but no tentacles, or which are 

 entirely hidden ; and cirrhi, which perform 

 the office of branchiae. 



AGOUTI. (Dasyprocta.) A genus of 

 Mammalia belonging to the order Jtodentia, 

 and classed with the Cavidce, or guinea-pig 

 tribe. It is found in great abundance 

 throughout South America ; and as it bears 

 some rude resemblance in its form and man- 

 ner of living to the hare and rabbit, though 

 it varies from both very essentially, it has 

 sometimes been denominated the rabbit of 

 that continent. It, however, varies still 

 more from that animal in its habitude and 

 disposition, than in its form. It has in a 

 great measure the external covering of a hog ; 

 so also has it the hog's voracious appetite : 

 it eats indiscriminately of every thing that 

 comes in its way ; and, when satiated, con- 

 ceals the remainder, like the dog and fox, for 

 it future occasion. The Agouti secretes itself 

 in the holes of trees ; its ordinary food con- 

 sisting of potatoes, yams, and the fruits which 

 fall in autumn. It uses its fore-paws, like the 

 squirrel, to convey the food to its mouth ; 

 and as its hind legs are very long, it runs, or 

 rather leaps, with considerable swiftness. 



pant 

 food 



AGOUTI. (uAUiirBOOTA.) 



and well dressed it is by no means unpala- 

 table food. Agoutis are particularly de- 

 structive to the sugar-cane : the planters 

 consequently use every means to catch them; 

 and although they are still numerous in 

 most places which are not settled and culti- 

 vated, their number is not now to be com- 

 pared with what it was even long after the 

 first colonists took possession of the West 

 India islands. There is one kind of Agouti 

 called the Mara, or Patagonian Cavy, con- 

 siderably larger and more elegant than any 

 of the others. Differently from most bur- 

 rowing animals, it wanders, commonly two 

 or three together, to miles or leagues from 

 its home. It feeds and roams about by day ; 

 is shy and watchful ; and generally produces 

 two young ones at a birth. Naturalists give 

 to this kind and species the name of Doli- 

 chotis Patachonicus. 



AGR AL33. An order of quadrupeds, des- 

 titute of teeth, but furnished with very long 

 cylindric tongues, which supply that defect. 

 Of this order there are only two distinct 

 genera, the Myrmccophaga and the Manis 

 [which see]. 



AGRIOPUS. A genus of Acanthoptery- 

 gious fishes, particularly distinguished from 

 other genera by having only nine rays in the 

 pectoral fins. The Agriopus torvits, or Sea- 

 horse, as it is sometimes called, is about two 

 feet long, and is common on the shores of the 

 Cape of Good Hope. 



AI. [See SLOTH.] 



AIAIA. (Platalea.) A bird of the Spoon- 

 bill genus, frequently seen in Brazil on the 

 banks of rivers. It is of a pale but very 

 bright and glossy flesh-colour on the back 

 and wings, while the other parts are all beau- 

 tifully white. Its flesh is considered whole- 

 some and palatable. 



AILURUS. A genus of carnivorous quad- 

 rupeds belonging to the family Ursidce. 

 The only known species, first found by Maj. ! 

 Gen. Hardwicke, is the Wah or Panda | 

 (Aihirits fulyens.) It is about the size of ; 

 a large cat ; the fur soft and thickly set ; 

 above, of the richest cinnamon-red ; be- 



The flesh is white and tender, and when fat | hind more fulvous, and deep black beneath. 



