CAPYBARA 245 



I take it, is the desire to express feelings experienced 

 in play, in a sense of satisfaction with life, an over- 

 flowing physical happiness which must find an outlet 

 somehow, and may show itself in mere rushings about, 

 flinging up of heels and bellowings, as we see in cattle. 

 These exercises undoubtedly tend to the improvement 

 of the vocal organs and the production of sounds less 

 harsh and savage. The sounds, then, which may be 

 described as music in the mammals are bellowing 

 of cattle, barking of seals, trumpeting of elephants, 

 howling of wolves and other canine species and of 

 monkeys, neighing of horses — wild horses occasionally 

 burst out in a neighing chorus as if for the mere 

 pleasure of it — and braying of asses. Large rodents 

 have harsh voices, and the largest of all rodents, the 

 capybara of South America, unite their voices in 

 screaming concerts. There are, however, many small 

 species with voices of a distinctly agreeable quality. 

 Thus, when camping among the tall grasses of the 

 pampas, I have listened by the hour with pleasure 

 to the continuous flow of liquid bubbling sounds all 

 about me of a small creature named quis — a species 

 of guinea-pig. 



Whether those sounds were uttered as conversa- 

 tion or song I don't know; there is, however, in that 

 same region another small mammal whose voice is 

 more song than talk. He is named tuco-tuco from 

 sounds he emits, as we name the cuckoo from its 

 call; and he is also known as oculto because he exists 

 unseen; for though a rodent with big eyes, he has 

 the habit of a mole, and lives in runs underground. 



