156 RODENT WATER TRESPASSERS. 



reservoirs, for if the water once forces its way even 

 through so small an aperture as a rat's burrow, it 

 enlarges it with increasing rapidity, and soon cuts a 

 large channel for itself. 



Even in a small way the animal may become a 

 great nuisance. The late Mr. Waterton had for many 

 years a pond in front of his house. The Water Voles 

 inhabited the banks of this pond, and were continually 

 boring their tunnels, so as to let out the water into a 

 neighbouring stream. He could not extirpate them 

 until the herons came and built in the ground, when 

 the birds soon found out this fertile source of food, 

 and demolished the intruders. 



THE CAPYBARA (Hydrochcerus Capylara). 



It is a rather remarkable fact that the largest of all 

 existing rodents should be a partial water trespasser ; 

 so much so, indeed, that whenever pressed by danger, 

 it always rushes to the water for safety. It is a native 

 of South America. 



Like most of the swimming animals, its feet are 

 webbed. With these feet it makes wonderful way in 

 the water, and, clumsy as it looks, can dive and swim 

 with such speed that no ordinary foe can overtake it. 

 The flesh of this animal is very good, and it is there- 

 fore much hunted by the natives. Its speed and 

 agility in the water, however, are so great, that they 

 could have but little hope of securing it but for the 

 terrible wourali poison with which they cover their 

 arrows. These weapons are five or six feet long, so 

 that they can not only force their way through the 



