HYDHOCH^RUS CAPYBABA. 427 



the same way ; and thus a whole family may be killed in 

 detail. 



HYDROCH^ERUS CAPYBARA. 



In all parts of the continent, on the banks of the streams 

 flowing through the Llanos of Venezuela, as well as by the 

 side of the La Plata and its tributaries, the capybara, the 

 largest rodent in existence, may be seen, seated on its haunches, 

 like others of its family. It is of the size of a moderately 

 large hog about two years old. It has a large head, and thick 

 divided nose, on each side of which are long whiskers. The 

 ears are small and rounded ; the eyes are black and of con- 

 siderable size ; and the upper jaw much longer than the lower, 

 which gives the face a curious appearance. The body is 

 thick, covered with short, coarse brown hair, and destitute of 

 a tail. The neck is short, as are the legs with remarkably 

 long feet, which are also very broad, the claws of a blunt 

 form, and approximate in shape to the hoofs of the Pachy- 

 dermata. They are partly webbed, and thus adapted to the 

 aquatic life it enjoys, and which has gained for it the name of 

 the water-hog. Though it feeds on vegetables, it is also fond 

 of fish, to catch which it enters the water, swimming after 

 them with the rapidity of an otter. When seen at a distance 

 as they run over the ground, from their colour they look 

 like pigs ; but when seen seated on their haunches, attentively 

 watching any object with one eye, as is their habit, their true 

 character is known. 



Darwin describes his observing a party of several. As he 



approached nearer and nearer they made their peculiar noise, 



which is a low, abrupt grunt, not having much actual sound, 



but rather arising from the sudden expulsion of air. The 



only noise like it is the first hoarse bark of a large dog. 



