THE AKOUCHI, &c. 269 



figure given by Merlan, the feet and toes 

 are ill reprefented *. The females produce 

 five or fix at a litter. The tail is very long, 

 and prehenfile, like that of the fapajous. The 

 young mount upon the back of the mother, 

 and adhere firmly with their tails twifted round 

 hers. In this fituation fhe carries them about 

 vpith great nimblenefs and fecurity. 



xvir. 



THE AKOUCHI, or OLIVE CAVY. 



THE akouchi is pretty common In Guiana 

 and other parts of South America. It differs 

 from the agouti by having a tail, which is want- 

 ing in the agouti. The akouchi is generally 

 fm.aller than the agouti, and its hair is not red, 

 but of an olive colour f. 



Thefe are >the only differences we know be- 

 tween the akouchi and agouti, which, however, 

 feem to be fufficient to conftitute two diftind 

 fpecies. 



S U P- 



• Seba, vol. i. p. 49. tab. 21. fig. 4. 

 + Cuniculus minor, caudatus, oiivaceus ; /tkoiichi, Barren^ 

 kift- nat, de la Fr. Equifi. f- 153. 



