444 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XX, 



This species greatly resembles D. variegata in coloration, 

 but it is paler, very much larger, and differs markedly in 

 cranial details. 



"AGOUTI (called ineki). Common principally in the dry 

 forest region, in woods or thickets; I do not think that it 

 ranges far into the mountains. It makes deep burrows under 

 roots and brush, and its habits and food are much like those 

 of the paca." H. H. S. 



35. 'Agouti paca (Linn.). Six specimens: 3 skins with 

 skulls, and 3 additional skulls. Five are from Bonda, and 

 the other from Baritaca. 



" PACA (so called in Colombia). Of all the South Amer- 

 ican rodents, this is the most esteemed for food ; consequently 

 it is much hunted and, being heavy and slow in its movements, 

 is easily killed. It is also a favorite prey of the larger carniv- 

 ora, and were it less prolific it would speedily become extinct. 

 It is now rather rare near Santa Marta. Our specimens were 

 shot in the dry-forest region, below 2000 feet, but it ranges 

 into the mountain forest. Pacas make deep burrows, gener- 

 ally under roots of trees, and they eat herbage and various 

 forest fruits." H. H. S. 



36. Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris (Linn.). One specimen, 

 immature, Mamatoca. 



"CAPIVARA (called by that name, but it was derived from 

 Brazil; capim-vara, shortened to capi-vara, means a dweller 

 in the grass in the Tupi language) . This is now a rare animal 

 in the immediate vicinity of Santa Marta, though common 

 further east and along the Magdalena flood-plain; our speci- 

 mens were shot near Mamatoca, on the Manzanares River . 

 They are never found far from the water and prefer places 

 where there is tall grass, partly submerged. The diet seems 

 to consist mainly or entirely of grass or certain small fruit. 

 They are stupid animals and quite harmless. I was once 

 knocked over by one which ran against me in the high grass 

 near an Amazonian lake. 



"Capivaras are very prolific, and a female is commonly 

 seen with several young, all of different sizes; probably this 

 has given rise to the idea that conception takes place during 



