270 LAOOMYS. FOSSIL REMAINS OP RODENTIA. 



date of its introduction is unknown. The Lagomys or Pica of 

 Siberia, an animal nearly allied to the Hare, is of much interest, 

 on account of its peculiar instincts. It is about the size of a 

 Guinea-pig, and lives on the sides of mountains, concealed in 

 hollows in the rocks, or inhabiting burrows which it has itself 

 excavated. In the autumn it selects and dries herbage for its 

 winter provision ; and of this it makes regular stacks, which are 

 sometimes four or five feet in height, by eight in breadth. A 

 subterranean gallery leads from the burrow to the stack ; so that 

 neither frost nor snow can intercept the communication with it. 

 The herbage is most carefully selected, and consists chiefly of the 

 choicest grass and the sweetest herbs, all cut when most vigorous, 

 and dried so slowly as to form a green and succulent fodder ; 

 and the collections of it furnish a valuable supply of food for the 

 horses of the Sable-Hunters. The Picas are also remarkable for 

 their voice ; the tone of which so much resembles that of a quail, 

 as to be often mistaken for it, even by the inhabitants of their 

 native districts. Their peculiar loud and sonorous note or call 

 is heard only in the morning and evening (except in dark and 

 cloudy weather), and is repeated by each animal, both male and 

 female, at regular intervals. 



238. The Fossil animals belonging to this order are mostly found 

 in very recent strata, and generally bear a very close resemblance 

 to those which still exist. Some of them, however, were of much 

 larger size ; especially those inhabiting South America. Thus 

 the remains of a species of Capybara have been found there, which 

 must have been nearly five feet in length ; so as to stand mid- 

 way between the existing species and the South American 

 Tapir. Remains of an Agouti, also, have been discovered, of 

 such a size that the long bones of its hind legs were nearly as 

 large as those of a Roebuck. And of the Coendou (or prehen- 

 sile-tailed Porcupine), a species must have formerly existed, very 

 little inferior to the wild Hog in bulk. Vast numbers of 

 remains of various Rodents allied to the existing species, are 

 found in a fossil state in the caves of that country ; and great 

 heaps of bones of the smaller animals of this group at present 

 existing there, are met with in the soil of other caves, in such a 



