» 



I70 



THE GNAWERS OR RODENTS. 



fig. 231, has a pretty thick but coarse fur, 

 the hairs of which exhibit alternate lemon- 

 yellow and dark brown markings, which pro- 

 duce a peculiar shimmering effect when the 

 animal moves. The agouti walks, runs, gal- 

 lops, and jumps almost like a hare ; by day it 

 conceals itself especially in the hollows of 

 trees; except at the breeding season it lives 

 solitary ; it makes paths for itself in the forest, 

 and is so eagerly pursued by dogs that the 

 latter will give up any other game in order to 



follow up the trace of an agouti. The flesh 

 of these animals is not highly esteemed. In 

 confinement the agouti is peaceable and 

 gentle, but shows no sign of attachment to its 

 owner; in zoological gardens they excite but 

 little interest among the spectators. 



The Paca {Ccelogenys paca), fig. 232, be- 

 longs to the same group. Its incisors are 

 orange-coloured in front, and the cheek-teeth 

 have still more intricate enamel folds than 

 those of the previous species. In the skull 



Fig. 232.— Tlie Paca [Cich^enys paca). 



of the paca we are at once struck by the con- 

 siderable development of the cheek-bone, 

 which is rounded externally, and so large that 

 it hides the back half of the lower jaw. On 

 the outer surface are i^rominent ridges, such 

 as are also to be seen on the frontal and nasal 

 bones. In the living animal a sinewy skin 

 stretches across the inner side of this bone so 

 as to inclose a cavity at the side of the mouth, 

 into which it opens. Yet the paca does not 

 appear to make use of this pouch as a store 

 for food, and no use has yet been discovered 

 for it. 



The paca is a pretty large animal consider- 

 ing that it is a rodent, for it attains the length 

 of nearly 2^ feet. Its general appearance is 

 like that of a young pig; but the head is 

 short, almost spherical, with small ears, blunt 

 muzzle, and a cleft upper lip. The tail is a 



mere stump. The strong legs are all five- 

 toed, and the toes are enveloped by large and 

 rather long hoofs. The short coarse and 

 thick fur is yellowish-brown on the back, 

 whitish-yellow beneath. On the sides are 

 five rows of bright yellow spots. The paca 

 lives solitary, or in pairs, in the marshy for- 

 ests of Brazil and the Southern Antilles. By 

 day it confines itself to the hole which it digs 

 for itself, but by night it is very active. It 

 runs and swims well, and works considerable 

 damage, especially in plantations of sugar-cane 

 and maize and melon fields. Its flesh is the 

 favourite sort of game in Brazil, and is pre- 

 pared for the table like pork, the hair being 

 boiled off in hot water. The animal is easily 

 caught in traps and snares, into which it is 

 enticed by a head of maize. The paca stands 

 our climate very well, but its introduction 



