22 CAPYBARA. 



peels, placed it with the Tapir, though in his His- 

 tory of Quadrupeds he has stationed it among the 

 rest of the Cavies. Dr. Pallas seems to have 

 first ascertained its true situation in systematic 

 arrangement, and has described it by the name of 

 Cavia Capybara, the latter word being its Brasil- 

 ian or native name. 



The Capybara grows to the size of a hog of 

 two years old, and is said to have been sometimes 

 found of the weight of 100 pounds. It inhabits 

 various parts of South America, though said to 

 be more common in Brasil than in other regions. 

 It feeds not only on various vegetables, and par- 

 ticularly on sugar canes, but also (contrary to the 

 nature of most of the Glires) on fish ; for which 

 purpose, it frequents rivers, swimming with the 

 same facility as the Otter, and, like that animal, 

 dragging its prey out of the water, and eating it 

 on the bank. These excursions in quest of prey 

 are made principally during the night. The Ca- 

 pybara is, in general, considered as of a gentle 

 disposition, and is readily tamed and made fami- 

 liar : the female produces but one young at a 

 birth. These animals are said to go in pairs, and 

 are naturally shy and timid. Their voice re- 

 sembles the braying of an ass. The Capybara 

 runs but indifferently, on account of the length 

 of its feet, and, therefore, commonly makes its 

 escape by plunging into the water, and swimming 

 to a great distance ; and for this reason it is 

 but seldom seen at any great distance from the 

 banks of rivers. 



