94 POPULAR OFFICIAL GUIDE. 



a wonder to behold. The lofty white crest of this animal 

 is one of its most conspicuous features. 



The Indian Crestless Hill Porcupine, (/-/. longicaudar}, 

 usually present in our collection, is merely a quiet under- 

 study of the former. Strange to say and also provok- 

 ing our old friend of the North Woods, the Canada Porcu- 

 pine, (Erethizon dorsatus*), is much more capricious and 

 difficult to keep for a long period than either of the fine 

 foreign species already mentioned. It is only the men who 

 know all about animals who can tell us why nothing seems 

 to exactly satisfy them, and why they will not breed here, 

 live ten years and be happy. Even the best cage life does 

 not seem to be good enough for them; but we are still 

 experimenting. 



In order that visitors to the Park may at all times be 

 able to see a Beaver, (Castor canadensis], and not be 

 thwarted in that desire by the very shy habits of the ani- 

 mals in the Beaver Pond, we have a specimen on exhibition 

 in the Small-Mammal House. This individual came from 

 the Eio Grande, as a small kit, and has been reared in its 

 present quarters. It is kept constantly supplied with food- 

 wood, chiefly of poplar and maple, and clean water in which 

 to bathe. 



The Capybara, (Hydrochaerus capybara} , is the largest of 

 all gnawing animals, and the most remarkable rodent in our 

 collection. In form and size it suggests a large, gray, 

 coarse-haired pig. It is a water- loving animal, of the Amer- 

 ican tropics, and lives on the grassy banks of the delta of 

 the Orinoco, and similar places farther south. It is one of 

 the best divers of all land animals, and when attacked on 

 land always plunges into the water and dives for about 

 100 feet before coming to the surface. It is strictly a vege- 

 table feeder, and its flesh is very palatable food. It takes 

 kindly to captivity, and in disposition it is very affectionate. 

 The Agouti, (Dasyprocta), is to the jungles of South 

 America as the cotton-tail rabbit is to the forests of the 

 eastern United States; but structurally it is not closely 

 related to the members of the Rabbit Family. It lives 

 wholly on the ground, in dense cover, and is very difficult 

 to shoot. As a rule, it is impossible for dogs to catch it 

 because it runs so swiftly through the dense cover that they 

 can not keep it in sight. There are a number of species, 

 varying in color from dark brown to golden yellow. 



The Toothless Mammals. The Order Edentata contains 



