MAMMALIA. 501 



Lepus cuniculus. — The Rabbit. — Plate XVI. fig. i. — Do- 

 mestic variety. Fur white, variously clouded with black, brown, 

 fawn-colour, or gray. The wild variety is gray and yellow 

 mixed ; reddish-brown about the neck, throat, and belly ; tail 

 brown above and white underneath. About sixteen inches long. 

 Its original country supposed to be Africa ; now spread over 

 most parts of the world. 



Genus 26. — Lagomys. — Geoffroy. 



Generic Character. — Incisors |, no canines, grinders ^^l ; to- 

 tal 28. The teeth and toes are similar to those of the Lepus ; 

 eyes moderately sized ; ears rather short and rounded; hind legs 

 about the same length as the fore ones ; soles of feet with fur ; 

 without any tail ; mammse four or six ; clavicles nearly perfect. 



Lagomys Alpinus — The Pika or Alpine Hare. — Plate 

 XVI*. fig. 8. — Fur reddish-yellow; ears and soles of the feet 

 dark brown. About ten inches long. Inhabits the mountains 

 of the old world. 



Genus 27. — Hydroch^rus. — Cuvier. 



Generic Character. — Incisors ^, no canines, grinders ^-^ ; to- 

 tal 22. The incisory teeth without longitudinal furrow; the 

 lower compressed and sharp ; the grinders are laminous ; muz- 

 zle compressed ; eyes large ; ears moderate and rounded ; fore 

 feet palmated with four toes ; posterior with three ; without any 

 tail ; two teats ; hair scattered and bristly. 



Hydrocharus capybara. — The Capybara. — Plate XVI*. fig. 

 9. — Fur brown ; head very large ; nose broad, divided ; nostrils 

 distant; whiskers very long; neck very short; body short and 

 thick ; legs strong and short ; feet large. About three feet 

 long. Inhabits the banks of the larger rivers in South America. 



Genus 28. — Cavia. — Desmarest. 



Generic Character. — Incisors \, no canines, grinders J—* ; total 

 20. Body thick ; muzzle short, compressed ; eyes large ; ears 

 round ; legs short ; four toes on the fore feet, and three on the 

 liind feet; not palmated ; without a tail ; teats two, ventral. 



Cavia Cobaya. — The Cobaya, or Guinea Pig. — Plate 

 XVI. fig. 5. — Fur short, reddish-gray on the upper parts, paler 

 beneath. Tame variety varied, with patches of black, f'awii- 



IV. 2 v 



