THE RODENTIA, OR GNAWING ANIMALS 389 



rootless when young, but become rooted after a time ; the upper 

 lip is furrowed ; the tail is more prehensile ; the soles of the feet 

 are smooth ; and the female has six teats. In the Tree Porcupines, 

 which are all American, the skull is peculiarly short ; the molars 

 are always rooted ; the upper lip is not furrowed ; the tail is 

 moderate or long, and generally prehensile ; the soles of the feet 

 are covered with wart-like tubercles ; and the female has only four 

 teats. 



The Capybara (Hydroch&rus capybara) is the largest of all 

 existing Rodents, large specimens measuring over four feet in 

 length. It is a stoutly built and massive animal, with limbs of 

 moderate length, a large head with a very blunt muzzle, small 

 eyes and ears, no tail, and both the fore- and hind-feet webbed. 

 In general appearance the Capybara is more pig-like than any 

 of its relatives. It is distributed over the whole eastern part of 

 South America, from Guiana southwards to the Rio de la Plata 

 and ranges westwards into the lower parts of Peru and Bolivia. 

 The Capybaras frequent the borders of the lakes and rivers with 

 which all this part of South America abounds, and are essentially 

 aquatic in their habits. 



In many respects the Pikas or Tailless Hares (Lagomyidia) closely 

 resemble the true hares, but they are distinguished by having 

 only five molars on each side in each jaw, a depressed skull, short 

 ears, limbs nearly equal in length, and no tail visible externally 

 They are much smaller than any of the hares and rabbits, the 

 largest being no larger than a guinea-pig, to which the animals have 

 some resemblance ; while in their habits they somewhat resemble 

 the marmots. When feeding they often produce a chirping or 

 whistling noise, whence the name of "Piping Hares" or "Calling 

 Hares" has also been applied to them. They inhabit the northern 

 and mountainous parts of Asia, and one species is also found in 

 Europe, about the southern part of the Volga. A single species 

 is found in North America. 



