266 



FAMILY CAVID^E; CAPYBARA, AGOUTI. 



South America, readily taking to the water, and swimming and 

 diving with facility. It runs badly, however, upon land, owing 



Fro. 135. CAPVBARA. 



to the shortness of its legs. In its disposition it strongly resem- 

 bles the Cavy ; and like it, is capable of being readily domesti- 

 cated. A friend of the Author's had one alive in his house for 

 some years ; and it gave very little trouble, though commonly 

 allowed to go at large. The Agouti is another of the Cavida3 ; 



resembling the Por- 

 cupines, however, in 

 possessing roots to its 

 molar teeth ; and re- 

 sembling the Hares, 

 also, in the length of 

 its hind legs, by 

 which it runs or 

 rather leaps with 

 considerable swift- 

 ness. When first taken possession of by Europeans, the West 

 India Islands and all the more fertile parts of South America 

 were literally overrun with the various species of this animal ; 

 they are still very numerous in most places which are not settled 

 and cultivated ; and even in some which are under cultivation, 

 then: numbers are so great, as to give no little annoyance. They 

 live for the most part upon the surface of the ground, not climbing, 



FIG. 136. COMMON AGOUTI. 



