Popular Btrtionari) of ^mmatctr $ature. 103 



particularly on sugar-canes, but also on fish ; 

 for which purpose it frequents rivers, swim- 

 ming with the same facility as the otter, and 

 taking its prey in a similar manner. The 

 Capybara is, in general, considered as of a 

 gentle disposition, and, though shy and 

 timid, is readily tamed and made familiar. 

 It has a very large head, and a thick, divided 

 nose, on each side of which are strong and 

 large whiskers ; the ears are small and 

 rounded ; the eyes large and black ; and the 

 upper jaw longer than the lower. The neck 

 is short ; the body thick, and covered with 

 short, coarse, brown hair : the legs short, 

 and the feet long. Like the Peccary, the 

 Capybara is destitute of a tail ; and, dissi- 

 milar to all others of this kind, instead of a 

 cloven hoof, it is in a manner web-footed, 

 and thus adapted for an aquatic life. 



" These great Rodents are generally called 

 ' Carpinchos : ' they occasionally frequent 

 the islands in the mouth of the Plata, where 

 the water is quite salt, but are far more 

 abundant on the borders of freshwater lakes 

 and rivers. Near Maldonado three or four 

 generally live together. In the day-time 

 they either lie among the aquatic plants, or 



[ might otherwise be overrun. They are not 

 ' all, however, exclusively carnivorous ; since 

 some of the species generally found in corn- 

 : fields are clearly ascertained to feed upon 

 growing grain. Some of the species among 

 the larger Carabidae exha_le a fetid odour, 

 ! discharging at the same time from the ab- 

 ! domen to a considerable distance a caustic 

 and acrid fluid. Few observations have 

 hitherto been made relative to the larvae of 

 this family ; but those which have been 

 noticed are equally voracious with the per- 

 fect insects, and are found in similar situa- 

 tions : they are generally long, with the 

 body of equal breadth throughout. The 

 large work of the Count Dejean is the most 

 complete book yet published on this family. 

 i There have been, however, many additions 

 j to this family of insects, as to most others. 

 There is a very large collection of them in 

 : the British Museum. 



I CARACARA. A South American Falcon- 

 i idous bird of the genus Polyborua. It is of the 

 I size of the common kite, and has a tail nine 

 I inches long. The beak is black, and hooked ? 

 i the plumage tawny, with white and yellow 

 specks ; the feet are yellow, with semicir- 



and colour, they resemble pigs : but when 

 seated on their haunches, and attentively 

 watching any object with one eye, they re- 

 assume the appearance of their congeners, 

 the Cavies. Both the front and side view of 

 their head has quite a ludicrous aspect, from 

 the great depth of their jaw. These animals, 

 at Maldonado, were very tame ; by cau- 



animal substance : carrion, reptiles, toads, 

 snails, birds, insects, &c. ; whatever, in short, 

 will suit the appetite of other ignoble birds 

 of prey, will content the Caracara. It is by 

 no means shy ; and though it ventures to 

 approach inhabited places, it is seldom at- 

 tacked, as it rarely molests domestic poultry. 



yards of four old ones. As I approached j 

 nearer and nearer they frequently made | 

 their peculiar noise, which is a low abrupt j 

 grunt ; not having much actual sound, but j 

 rather arising from the sudden expulsion of 

 air : the only noise I know at all like it, is 

 the first hoarse bark of a large dog. Having 

 watched the four from almost within arm's I 

 length (and they me) for several minutes, 

 they rushed into the water at full gallop, 

 with the greatest impetuosity, and emitted, 

 at the same time, their bark. After diving 

 a short distance they came again to the sur- 

 f:ice, but only just showed the upper part of 

 their heads. When the female is swimming 

 in the water and has 

 said to sit on her back. 



CARABIDAE. A very numerous family 

 of Coleopterous insects, containing some of 

 the largest of the carnivorous beetles ; many 

 of which are adorned with brilliant metallic 

 colours. The body of these insects is of a 

 Very firm consistence, whereby they are 

 enabled to creep about under stones, &c., as 

 well as prevented from falling beneath the 

 power of the insects they attack ; most of 

 the species of this family being eminently 

 insectivorous ; prowling about, in search of 

 their prey, on the surface of the ground, 

 under stones, &c., or beneath the bark of 

 trees, or in the moss growing at their roots. 

 They are accordingly of essential service in 

 keeping down the numbers of noxious in- 

 sects with which our gardens and pastures 



young ones, they are 

 JJarwin's Journal. 



It lays two eggs, pointed at one end, and 

 spotted with crimson on a reddish-brown 

 ground. 



CARCAJOU. [See BADGER.] 



CARACAL. (Fclis caracal.) This ani- 

 mal, called also the Persian Lynx, is a 

 native both of Asia and Africa. It is about 

 the sixe of a fox ; possesses great strength 

 and fierceness ; and is used not only in the 

 chase of the smaller quadrupeds, but of the 



larger kinds of birds, such as herons, cranes, 

 pelicans, &c., which it is said to surprise 

 with great address. When it has seized its 

 prey, it lies motionless for some time upon 

 it, holding it in its mouth. Its colour is a 

 pale reddish-brown, whitish beneath : the 

 head is small, the face rather long, the ears 

 sharp and slender, of a dark colour, and 

 terminated by a tuft or pencil of long black 

 hairs. 



