'THE CRAB-EATER. 347 



Habits, manners, etc. 



are very common in the marshy places at Cay- 

 enne. " They are very dexterous/' says he, " ia 

 climbing trees, upon which they remain much 

 longer than upon the ground, especially in the 

 day time. They have very fine teeth and defend 

 themselves from the dogs. Their principal food 

 consists of crabs, and yet they are always fat. 

 If they cannot get the crabs out of the holes 

 with their feet, they then make use of their tail, 

 as a kind of hook; but the crabs sometimes lay 

 hold of it, and make the animals utter a cry, 

 which resembles that of a man, and may be 

 heard at a great distance ; though its common 

 voice is like the grunting of a pig." The females 

 make their nests in the hollows of old trees, and 

 generally produce four or five young at a time. 

 They are easily domesticated, and are fed, like 

 dogs or cats, with any kind of victuals; whence 

 it is evident that their taste for crabs is not ex- 

 clusive. 



In Cayenne there is a species of crab-eater 

 which differs from that already described in the 

 shape and proportions of the body ; in the struc- 

 ture of the feet and claws; and in the tail being 

 entirely covered with hair ; as also in the ani- 

 mal's seizing its prey with its paws only. 



The natives of the country eat the flesh of 

 these quadrupeds, which is said to bear a near 

 resemblance to that of the hare. 



