394 



VEKTEBHATA. 



These ;uiiii):ils arc not eaten, and the chief reason for their being propagated, as they are to a 

 considerable extent, is, thai they are exceedingly smooth, gentle, and pretty, are very productive, 

 and easily kept. They have a disagreeable smell, but tins is supposed to be compensated for by 

 disgusting rats and mice so thai they will desert the place which they inhabit. 



The other species of Cavia are as follows: Spix's ('aw, C. S/>i.rii, and the Brilliant Caw, 

 C. fulgida, both of Mexico; the 5Tellow-toothed Cavy, C. Jlavidens, of Bolivia, found abun- 

 dantly in the plains around Lake Titicaca, and called C. Boliviensis by some authors, and Galea 

 mvsteloides by Meyen; Cutler's Cavt, C. Cutleri,oi Peru, and the Southern Cavy, C.Ausiralis, 

 found from Paraguay to the Straits of Magellan. This latter is described as living in deep bur- 

 rows, made in sandy places covered with shrubs, and usually near the habitations of man. It is 

 livelv, but timid, seldom quitting its retreats, except at night. The Indians call it Sah<tl, and 

 the Spaniards Tucu-tucu. Bennett gives this species the scientific name of Kerodon Kingii. 



.<• , 



THE BROWN PACA. 



THE CELOGENYENS OR PACAS. 



The Pacas resemble the capybaras, though the former are omnivorous and the latter herbivor- 

 ous; they also approach the agoutis, being closely allied to them by their general form and the 

 similarity of their organization. The dental and generative systems in both are very nearly alike ; 

 neither have clavicles, nor indeed has the capvbara; and though the agouti has only three toes on 

 the hind-feet, the two additional hind-toes of the Paca are hardly more than rudiments. The great 

 differences consist in the zygomatic development, the folding back of the skin under the zygomatic 

 arch — and the consequent bluff appearance of the head — the cheek-pouches, and the fur. 



Under this head we have to mention but the single genus, PACA or CELOGENYS, Coelogavi- 

 and a single species, the Paca, often called the Brown Paca; the Spotted Cavy of Pennant and 

 Bewick; the Pag of the Brazilians; the Paig of the inhabitants of Paraguay. It is called Pak 

 by the colonists of (.'avenue, and Water-hare by those of Surinam. It is the Mas paca of Linnaeus; 

 the ( '. subniger of F. Cuvier. Some naturalists mention another species, C.fulvus, but it is doubt- 

 less only a variety of the C. subniger. 



This animal, which is found in Brazil and the adjacent countries, and which once existed in 

 the West Indies, has a thickset, stubby appearance, with a clumsv gait, though its movements arc 

 prompt and sudden. The fur is composed of silky hairs, very short, thin, and stiff, of a blackish- 

 brown on all the upper parts of the body, excepting four rows of parallel spots, which begin at 

 the shoulders and terminate at the haunches; the spots of each row are so approximated, that^ 

 when viewed in a particular direction they seem to form an uninterrupted line, and the row near- 

 esi the belly is almost confounded with the color of that part, which is white; the under parts of 

 the lower jaws, the internal surface of the limbs, and the claws are also white. "The length of the 

 body is twenty-one inches; the height, twelve inches. 



