THE AGOUTI. 113 



same animal has been discovered in Poland under the 

 denomination of the boback ; in Siberia, under that of 

 the jevraska; and in Canada, by the appellation of the 

 monax : and in each of these parts of the world the 

 creature passes the winter months in the torpid manner 

 we have just described ; and, during that period, does 

 not take the slightest portion of sustenance. The 

 flesh of the marmout is sometimes eaten ; but it is 

 neither a pleasant or delicate kind of food. 



THE AGOUTI. 



This animal is found in great abundance in the 

 southern parts of America, and has frequently been 

 termed the rabbit of that country. Though in many 

 respects we may trace a resemblance between the agouti 

 and the rabbit, yet it differs in still more, and is allowed 

 to be a creature peculiar only to the new world. In 

 size and form it doubtless is like a rabbit, though its 

 ears are not near so long ; and, instead of being co- 

 vered with downy fur, the hair rather resembles that 

 of a hog, and the colour is a reddish brown : the tail 

 likewise is shorter than the animal's it has been 

 compared to, and entirely destitute of hair : it has 

 only three claws upon its hinder feet ; and its appetite 

 is so great that it will eat any kind of food, though it 

 prefers potatoes, yams, and fruit. 



The sight of the agouti is remarkably good, and its 

 hearing very acute : it has four cutting teeth, like the 

 hare ; and, like that animal, is hunted for the sake of 

 its food. When taken young it is easily tamed, and 

 plays harmlessly about the house ; in a savage state it 

 resides in the woods, and fixes its abode in the hollow 

 of some tree as distant as possible from human habi- 

 tations. 



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