THE PORCUPINES. 133 



forests of Cuba, where it resides either upon the trees or in the thick underwood. It is a nocturnal 



or crepuscular animal, and is tolerably active when going about on the branches of trees, but is less 



at home on the ground. Its food consists of fruits, leaves, and the bark of trees, but, according to 



M. Ramon de la Sagra, it does not disdain animal food, and is especially fond of a species of Lizard 



belonging to the genus Anolis. On the other hand, the negroes are very partial to the flesh of the 



Hutia, and they capture the animal either by snaring it on the branches of trees, or by sending Dogs 



after it Like the Coypu, it is said to fight courageously against its pursuers. Another Cuban 



species, the HUTIA CARABALI (C. jsrehensilis), has a slightly 



longer tail, which is prehensile at the tip. It is described as 



keeping chiefly to the highest branches of the trees. In St. 



Domingo there is an allied form, Plagiodon cedium, in which 



the enamel folds of the molars are singularly complex (see 



figure on p. 132), This animal frequents the neighbourhood 



of human habitations, and approaches them at night in search 



of its food, which consists of fruit and roots. In most of the SKULL OF LOXCHEKES. 



other members of this sub-family, which appear to be terrestrial 



in their habits, the intermixture of spines with the fur of the back is a striking character. In 



the genus Echinomys itself, and in Loncheres, which together include about a dozen species found 



chiefly in Guiana and Brazil, the spines frequently form the principal outer covering of the back. 



Side by side with these hedgehog-like species, however, others occur in which the fur is soft. 



The GROUND RAT (Aulacodus Swinderianus), of Western and Southern Africa, is remarkable as 

 being the sole representative of this group outside the South American province. It has very 

 broad incisors, and those of the upper jaw exhibit three deep grooves ; the molars show the same 

 arrangement of folds as in Capromys ; the fur is harsh and bristly, and of a general brown tint ; and 

 the tail is of moderate length, sparingly haired, dusky above, and whitish below. The fore feet have 

 the thumb rudimentary and the outer toe very short ; and the hind feet have only four toes, of which 

 the outer one is rudimentary. This curious animal, which is nearly two feet long, is known to 

 be an inhabitant of Sierra Leone and the Gambia, and also of South Africa (Port Natal) ; in all 

 probability it occurs at many intermediate localities. In Sierra Leone it is known as the Ground 

 Rat, or Ground Pig, and is said to feed upon ground nuts, and cassada and other roots in search 

 of which it digs into the ground, where it also forms large burrows for its residence. 



CHAPTER IV. 



PORCUPINES CHINCHILLAS AGOUTIS CA VIES- H AEES AND RABBITS PIKAS. 



HYSTRICIDJE, THE PORCUPINES Conversion of Hairs into Spines Skull Dentition Tail Sub-families The True 

 Porcupines The Tree Porcupines THE COMMON PORCUPINE Distribution Description The Crest of Bristles- 

 Nature of the Spines Habits Young Flesh On the Defensive Other Species Species of Tree Porcupines THE 

 COUENDOU THE COUIT Description Habits THE URSON, OR CANADA PORCUPINE Description Habits Food 

 CHINCHILLID^E, THE CHINCHILLAS Characteristics THE VISCACHA Description Life on the Pampas Their 

 Burrows Habits The Chinchillas of the Andes THE CHINCHILLA THE SHORT-TAILED CHINCHILLA CUVIER'S 

 CHINCHILLA THE PALE-FOOTED CHINCHILLA DASYPROCTIDJE, THE AGOUTIS Characters THE AGOUTI Distri- 

 bution Appearance Habits AZARA'S AGOUTI THE ACOUCHY THE PACA Appearance Distribution Habits 

 DINOMYIDJ2 Founded for a Single Species Description Rarity CAVIIDJE, THE CAVIES Characteristics THE 

 RESTLESS CAVY Appearance Habits The Guinea-Pig Controversy THE BOLIVIAN CAVY THE ROCK CAVY THE 

 SOUTHERN CAVY THE PATAGONIAN CAVY, OR MARA Peculiar Features Its Burrows Mode of Running THE 

 CAPYBARA Its Teeth Where Found Habits THE DOUBLE-TOOTHED RODENTS Characteristics LEPO 

 RID^E, THE HARES AND RABBITS Structural Peculiarities Distribution Disposition THE COMMON HARE Hind 

 Legs Speed Its "Doubles " Other Artifices Its "Form " Habits Food Pet Hares THE RABBIT Distribution 

 Habits Domesticated THE MOUNTAIN HARE LAGOMYID JS, THE PIKAS Characteristics Distribution THE 

 ALPINE PIKA THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN PIKA. 



FAMILY XII. HYSTRICID.E (PORCUPINES). 



THIS second family of the section Hystricomorpha exhibits the conversion of the hairs into 

 spines in perfection, the whole upper part of the body being in several instances completely 

 112 



