302 THE COIPUS. 



new genus, to which he gave the title of myopotamus^ the 

 animal being designated as myopotamus bonariensis, the 

 specific name bearing allusion to the country where it came 

 under his observation, viz : the province of Buenos Ayres. 

 Long, however, before Commerson, the Coipus was described 

 both by Molina and afterwards by Don Felix d'Azzara. 



Though M. St. Hilaire published his Memoir in 1809, the 

 attention of British naturalists does not appear to have been 

 directed to the animal in. question till long afterwards; nor 

 was it really known to them, for, in 1812, we find an account 

 of it in the Transactions of the Linnaean Society, under the 

 name of the mus castorides, without any reference to St. 

 Hilaire or other authorities. Mr. Burrow adds, " The person 

 who first possessed the animal in this country states that he 

 bought it on board a ship from the Brazils : I had afterwards 

 frequent opportunities of observing it, and of making my 

 drawing while it was alive at Exeter 'Change. It died sud- 

 denly, and without any apparent cause, and is now in the 

 collection of Mr. Bullock. When teased or disturbed, it 

 uttered a weak cry, but was good-tempered and not easily 

 roused to resistance. The method of feeding was the same 

 with that of most the glires, but the forepart of the body was 

 very little raised." 



Such is a summary of the scientific records of the Coipus 

 or Coypou. The Coipus is a native of the southern and 

 meridional regions of the American Continent. It resides 

 habitually in burrows or holes which it excavates along the 

 banks of the larger rivers, and in these burrows the female 

 brings forth her young, from five to seven in number, to which 

 she manifests great attachment, taking them with her as soon 

 as sufficiently grown to follow her in her rambles. Every 

 point in the configuration of this animal indicates its aquatic 

 habits, as well as its facility of burrowing. 



The body is clothed with two sorts of hair, an under gar- 

 ment of fine close fur. almost water-proof, and an upper layer 

 of long, shining, straight hairs of rich brown, which is the 

 general color, except on the muzzle, which is a dirty white. 



