9*2 MAMMALIA. 



CHLOROMYS, Fr. Cuvier*. 



The Agoutis have four toes before and three behind ; four grinders through- 

 out, almost equal, with flat crowns irregularly furrowed, rounded borders 

 notched on the internal edge in the upper jaw, and on the external one in the 

 lower. In disposition, and in the nature of their flesh, they resemble hares 

 and rabbits, which they may be said to replace in the Antilles and hot parts 

 of America. 



Fr. 



The Pacas, in addition to teeth very like those of the Agoutis, have a very 

 small toe on the internal edge of the fore foot, and one on each side equally 

 sma'l on their hinder one, making five toes every where. Besides this, there 

 is a cavity formed by a very large and projecting zygomatic arch, which gives 

 a very extraordinary aspect to the bony head. Their flesh is said to be very 

 good. 



There is one species or variety fawn-coloured, and another brown, both of 

 which are spotted with white; the Cavia paca, Lin. 



Finally, there remains an animal perhaps nearly allied to the Cavias, and 

 possibly more so to the Lagomys or the Rats, which we are unable to dispose 

 of, on account of our ignorance of its teeth ; I mean the Chinchilla, thousands 

 of whose skins are to be had, but of which we have never yet been able to 

 procure the entire body. It is about the size of a small rabbit ; is covered 

 with long, close, and fine hair, the softest that is known among common furs. 

 This quadruped inhabits the mountains of South America. 



ORDER VI. 



EDENTATA. 



THE Edentata, or quadrupeds without front teeth, will form our last order 

 of unguiculated animals. Although united by a character purely negative, 

 they have, nevertheless, some positive mutual relations, and particularly large 

 nails, which embrace the extremities of the toes, approaching more or less to 

 the nature of hoofs ; a slowness, a want of agility, obviously arising from the 

 peculiar organisation of their limbs. There are, however, certain intervals in 

 these relations, which render it necessary to divide the order into three tribes. 

 The first of these is the 



TARDIGRADA. 



They have a short face. Their name originates from their excessive slow- 

 ness, the consequence of a construction truly heteroclite, in which nature 



Chlnromys, Yellow-Rat. f Cabgeru/*, Hollow Check. 



