380 THE BROWN PACA. 



conceals the remainder. The female produces, throughout the 

 year, from four to six young at a litter. They are easily tamed, 

 but are destructive, as they gnaw everything that comes in their 

 way. 



The South Americans hunt the agouti for the sake of its 

 flesh, which is much prized, and resembles that of the rabbit. 



THE BROWN PACA.* (Ccelogenus subniger, F. Cuv.) 



This animal inhabits the forests in the whole of the eastern 

 division of South America, from Surinam to Paraguay, and 

 formerly existed in some of the West India islands. 



Its general colour is dusky, with a deeper shade on the back, 

 and a tinge of greyish white on the under parts. From the 

 shoulders to the haunches extend four or five longitudinal 

 rows of oblong whitish spots. 



It eats herbs, and fruits principally, but the sugar plantations 

 occasionally suffer from its devastations. The damage it com- 

 mits is partly recompensed, however, by the savoury dish 

 afforded by its flesh, which is a staple article of food in many 

 parts of South America. 



* Readers of travels should bear in mind that thepaca is not the^aco, a 

 sort of llama,, and also a South American animal. 



