CAVIDV 



-MAMMALIA. LEPORID.E. 



143 



THE EESTLESS CAVY (Cavia aperca) is generally 

 considered to be the originator of our domestic variety 

 of cavy, commonly called the guinea-pig. It is an 

 inhabitant of Brazil, and is found in Paraguay and 

 La Plata. The hairs are brown, with reddish-yellow 

 points, the throat and inferior parts being either white, 

 greyish, or dirty yellow. In the tame varieties the 

 prevailing tint is white, with black and orange-coloured 

 spots. According to Dr. Rengger, this species lives 

 wild, in little societies, varying numerically from six to 

 fifteen individuals. Its principal feeding time is in the 

 morning and evening. In respect of its procreative 

 powers in the domesticated state, few animals surpass 

 it. The female produces from six to twelve young at 

 a litter, and this frequently takes place several times 

 during the year. In six or eight weeks the young are 

 themselves ready to give birth to other offspring. 



THE BOLIVIAN CAVY (Cavia Boliviensis} occupies 

 only the higher altitudes of Bolivia. The fur has a 

 greyish-yellow colour, being whitish underneath. The 

 incisors have an orange yellow tint. This species is 

 very shy, and, from the statement of Meyen, is believed 

 to be extremely abundant on the lofty plains of Tarna 

 and Tajari. Several other species of cavy are found 

 in Brazil and different regions of South America. 



THE CAPYBARA (Hydrochasrus Capybara) inhabits 

 the banks of almost every river in Brazil, Guiana, 

 and Paraguay, being also found more or less abundant 

 throughout the whole continent of South America. 

 This is the largest species of rodent now existing, 

 the body attaining sometimes a length of four feet. 

 The superior incisors are grooved longitudinally in 

 front. The molars are made up of numerous laminae, 

 and they are so disposed in the posterior teeth, that 

 Cuvier was led to indicate an affinity on the part of 

 this animal with the elephant a view which enjoys 

 the sanction of the best comparative anatomists. The 

 head of the Capabara is long, thick, and drawn out 

 towards the muzzle. The feet are slightly palmated ; 

 the digits being armed with broad ungular claws. 

 The skin is clothed with long, thin, and scanty hairs ; 

 constituting another feature which serves to remind us 

 of the pachydermatous mammals. There is no trace 

 of a tail. According to Marcgrave, as recorded by 

 Broderip, this aberrant rodent lives on herbs and fruits. 

 It is a nocturnal animal, swimming across rivers and 

 torrents in search of food, and raising a horrible noise 

 on such occasions. Multitudes of them congregate 

 together on the banks of streams, where they are 

 attacked and destroyed by hunters before they can 

 plunge into the water. Those, however, which suc- 

 ceed in getting into the stream are safe ; for though 

 slow of foot, they are expert swimmers. Some writers 

 aver that they are fond of fish ; but this seems doubtful. 



THE PACA (Ccelogenys Pacd) is a moderately large 

 South American rodent, measuring about two feet in 

 length, and like the foregoing presents some affinities 

 with the pachyderms. The general colour of the fur is 

 dark -brown above and white underneath ; the sides 

 being prettily marked with, four or five longitudinal 

 rows of white spots, extending backwards from the 

 shoulder to the rump. The Paca is furnished with 

 buccal pouches; the upper lip is cleft, and there is a large 



fold of integument on the cheeks. The tail is very 

 feebly developed. The fore-feet are tetradactylous, 

 a rudimentary thumb existing in the form of a clawed 

 warty tubercle; the hind feet are three-toed. The 

 Paca frequents low forests in the neighbourhood of 

 water. It forms burrows which are comparatively 

 superficial, and have three openings. Though heavy- 

 looking and stout-built, it is tolerably swift on foot. 

 Its habits are nocturnal, feeding on fruits and herbage. 

 The female produces a single young one at a birth. 

 The flesh is excellent eating. 



THE AGOUTI (Dasyprocta Agutfj. ThQ several 

 species of the genus which this animal represents are 

 characterized by tetradactylous feet in front, and tri- 

 dactylous feet behind, and in this particular they 

 correspond with the paca. This rodent is about the 

 size of a hare, and, as a kind of game, seems to supply 

 the place of our " puss " in Brazil, where it is much 

 hunted. The general colour of the fur is yellowish- 

 brown; a mottled or speckled appearance being pro- 

 duced by the hairs in the region of the neck from 

 accumulations of brown, yellow, and black colour. 

 The Agoutis do not construct burrows, but frequent 

 thickets, and when pursued generally seek for holes 

 under old trees, or any place calculated to afford a 

 semblance of security. When captured they utter a 

 plaintive cry, and offer little or no resistance. Their 

 claws being blunt and straight, they are unable to 

 clamber up the trees. These animals are very prolific, 

 the female bringing forth several young at a single 

 birth. Many other species occur in Brazil and the 

 adjoining West Indian islands. 



FAMILY XL LEPORID^. 



The Hares are at once distinguished from the other 

 families of the rodent type, by the circumstance of their 

 possessing four incisor teeth in the upper jaws. Two 

 of these are very small, and are placed immediately 

 behind the anterior pair, so as to present the appear- 

 ance of double teeth, hence the Hares are sometimes 

 called the Duplicidentates. The molars are generally 

 twenty-two in number, six on either side above, and 

 five correspondingly opposed below. They are desti- 

 tute of roots, and are made up of two distinct laminae. 

 When the mouth is closed the lower series project 

 inwards beyond the margin of the upper ones. This 

 arrangement being associated with a certain facility 

 of movement of the condyle of the lower jaw at its 

 articulation, not found in other Rodents, it must be 

 evident that the Hares employ a chewing action some- 

 what similar to that found in the ruminating mammals. 

 The last molar tooth of the superior series is very 

 small. The orbital fossae are perforated by a common 

 foramen opticum. The bony palate is incomplete ; 

 whilst, in the typical forms, the clavicles are also imper- 

 fectly developed. The soles of the feet are clothed 

 with hair, there being five digits in front, and four 

 posteriorly. The claws are long and narrow. The 

 tail is either short or entirely absent. The Hares have 

 a very wide geographical distribution in the hemi- 

 spheres, being more particularly abundant in North 

 America. 



