THE PACA. 



141 



and gardens its inroads may give rise to considerable injury. The animal is, however, rather solitary 

 in its habits, living by itself in its cell, in its departxire from and return to which it appears 

 generally to follow exactly the same roads, by which means a narrow but very distinct footpath 

 is in course of time produced. This naturally often leads to the discovery and capture of the little 

 recluse. 



The Agouti appears to breed all the year round, usually producing two young ones at a 

 birth. The female prepares her dwelling for the reception of her family by lining it comfortably 

 with leaves, fine roots, and hair. 



In the southern parts of Brazil, in Paraguay and Bolivia, the place of this species is taken by 

 AZARA'S AGOUTI (Dasyprocta Azarce). A smaller species, the 

 ACOUCHY (D. acouchy), is found not only in Guiana and the 

 north of Brazil, but also in several of the West India 

 Islands. The last-named species has a well-developed tail 

 about two inches long. 



Besides the Agoutis, this family includes an allied 

 animal, the PACA (Ccdogenys paca), which differs generically 

 from the Agoutis by having five toes on the hind feet. It 

 has a broader head and a blunter muzzle, and is altogether 

 a rather stouter animal than the Agoutis ; but, like most of 

 them, it has a mere tubercle instead of a tail. One of the 

 most remarkable characters presented by this animal, how- 

 ever, is the enormous development of the zygomatic arches, which are enlarged and inflated in 

 the most extraordinary manner, the maxillary portion, which occupies the anterior two-thirds being 

 hollowed out beneath into a great chamber, lined with nrncous membrane, and opening into the 

 mouth by a rather small aperture. The function of these remarkable cavities is at present quite un- 

 known. Food is not to be found in them, and, indeed, as they are enclosed by solid bone, it would 

 seem impossible that they could act as cheek-pouches. 



The Paca, which inhabits Central and South America from Guatemala to Paraguay, is about 

 two feet long, and is clothed with short rather coarse hair of a brown or yellowish-brown colour 

 above, white beneath, with from three to five bands of white streaks and spots upon each side 



SKULL OF THE PACA. 



