578 



THE SOOTY PACA. 



tail. The hair of this part of the body is a bright golden-brown, but on the back and 

 sides the fur has a curious speckled aspect, on account of the black, brown, and yellow 

 tints with which each hair is marked. On the greater part of the body the fur is only 

 about one inch in length, but the golden-brown hair of the hinder parts is more than 

 four inches long. In character it is coarse, though glossy. 



Though all the species are furnished with powerful claws, the Agouti is incapable of 

 climbing trees or digging burrows. It is said to have some idea of laying up provisions, 

 and to hide any superabundance of food in some place of concealment. In size it 

 exceeds the common rabbit, but does not equal the hare. 



BETWEEN the agoutis and the pacas is placed the MARA, or Patagonian Cavy, as it is 

 sometimes called, an animal which is remarkably swift for a short distance, but is so 

 easily fatigued that it can be run down by a man on horseback. It is more tameable 

 than the agouti, and is often kept in a state of domestication, being permitted to range 

 the house and premises at will. It is generally found in couples, a male and his mate 

 occupying the same "form." It does not seem to burrow, nor to keep so close to its 

 retreat as the agouti, but is fond of crouching in a form like our common hare. It is 

 about thirty inches in length, and about nineteen inches high at the crupper, which is 

 the most elevated part of the animal. At the shoulder it hardly exceeds sixteen inches. 

 The fur of this animal is soft and warm, and from the contrasting colors of black, 

 white, and golden-brown, presents a very handsome appearance. Its scientific title is 

 Dolichbtis Fatachbnicus 



SOOTY P\CA.-CceIogeays Paca. 



The PACAS are remarkable for the extraordinary development of a portion of the 

 skull, which gives to the entire head a very singular aspect. The cheekbone is enor- 

 mously developed into a large, expanded mass of bone, concave and very rough on the 

 exterior, and smooth and concave interiorly. This enlarged bone is so enormous that 

 its lower edge descends below the lower jawbone, and hides a considerable portion of 

 it. Closely connected with this curious structure is a cheek-pouch, for which no use 

 has hitherto been discovered. There are also two large cheek-pouches which open 

 into the mouth, and extend past the jaws into the neck. In consequence of this for- 

 mation, the name of CceUSgenys, or " Hollow-cheek," has been given to this genus. 



The Pacas inhabit Southern America, being mostly if not entirely, restricted to the 

 eastern portions of that country, and have also been found in some of the West Indian 

 islands. 



