NATURAL HISTORY. 32$ 



ievery month, which makes their species very numerous. 

 They are good to eat, and are easily taken with snares 

 laid for them on the banks of rivers, and in the marshy 

 grounds, which they prefer to every other place. It 

 is pretended, that they are not afraid of the bite of 

 the rattle-snake, and that they live in peace with these 

 reptiles, which are often found in their holes. The 

 savages make baskets, boxes, and other small vessels 

 of their scales. 



THE PACA, OR SPOTTED CAVY. 



THE paca, or spotted cavy, is an animal of the 

 New World, who digs a burrow like a rabbit, to which 

 he has been compared, though there is scarcely any 

 likeness between them. He is much larger than the 

 rabbit, and even than the- hare ; he has a round head, 

 and a short snout : he is fat and bulky, and, by the 

 form of his body, he is more like a pig, in grunting, 

 waddling, and the manner of eating ; for he grubs up 

 the earth like the hog, to find his subsistence. These 

 animals inhabit the banks of rivers, and are found in 

 damp and hot places of South America. Their flesh 

 is very good to eat ; and excessively fat. Their skin 



Vol. I. S 8 



