140 



NATURAL HISTOKI. 



of the true Chinchilla, but the second of them passes northwards into the mountains of Ecuador, 

 their habits they agree with the Chinchillas. 



In 



MOLAR, TEETH OF THE AGOUTI. 



FAMILY XIV. DASYPROCTTD^E (AGOUTIS). 



In the Agoutis we have the first of three more or less pig-like families, furnished with hoof-like 

 nails on the toes, all the members of which are inhabitants of South America. The Agoutis especially 



may be compared to small slender-limbed Pigs, but they bear 

 a still closer resemblance in external form to the little Musk 

 Deer. The Dasyproctidae have the incisors long ; the molars, 

 which are at first rootless, and afterwards close up, have enamel 

 folds from both surfaces ; the clavicles are rudimentary ; the 

 upper lip entire ; the ears short; the tail short and naked, or 

 quite rudimentary; and the fore feet have five toes. 



Of these animals eight or nine species are known. They 

 inhabit South America, from Mexico southwards to Paraguay 

 and Bolivia, and some of them also occur in the larger West 

 Indian Islands. They frequent the forest region, and especially 

 haunt the banks of rivers. 



The AGOUTI (Dasyprocta agut'i), the most abundant and 

 best-known species, is found chiefly in Guiana, Brazil, and 

 eastern Peru, where it is to be found plentifully in the primeval 

 forests. Like the other true Agoutis, it has only three toes 



on the hind foot ; its ears are of moderate size and rounded ; its form compact, and supported 



upon slender limbs ; its tail rudimentary ; and the hair of its back is coarse and harsh, and 



longer towards the hinder 



parts, which thus obtain a 



somewhat truncated appear- 

 ance. Its general colour is 



olive brown, produced by 



a mixture of black and 



yellow ; but the long hairs 



covering the hinder portion 



of the back are usually of 



an orange colour, and the 



middle line of the abdomen 



is whitish or yellow. This 



animal is from eighteen to 



twenty inches long. 



Although inhabiting the 



forests, the Agouti is not 



unfrequently seen on the 



neighbouring grassy plains, 



but its residence is among 



the trees, in the hollows of 



which, or in cavities at their 



roots, it takes up its abode, 



generally lying concealed in 



its retreat during the day. 



It is very quick in its 



movements, runs well, and springs with almost the agility of an Antelope. The food of the Agouti 



consists of almost any vegetable substances that come in its way. It will eat grass and herbage, the 



roots of plants, their flowers and fruit, and when it lives in the neighbourhood of sugar plantations 



AZARA'S AGOUTI. (From the Proceedings of the Zoological Society.) 



