RODENTIA. 119 



inferior value to that of tbe preceding, and which occasionally turns white in winter * ; the Variable Hare (L. varia- 

 bilis), a mountain species, larger than either of the foregoing, with still shorter ears and limbs than the Irish Hare, 

 and brown fur in summer, which always changes to white at the approach of winter ; and the Rabbit (,L. cuniculus), 

 remarkable for its burrowing habits, and for bringing forth its young blind and naked, while the Leverets of the 

 three others see and run from birth. Not less than sixteen species of Lepus are already known in North 

 America ; and many others exist in Asia and Africa.] 



The PiKAS {Lagomys, Cuv.) — 

 Have ears of moderate length, the limbs nearly equal, the antorbital foramen simple, almost perfect 

 clavicles, and no tail whatever. They often utter a very sharp cry. They have hitherto been found 

 only in Siberia [since, however, at a considerable altitude on the Himmalayas, and in North America], 

 and Pallas was the first to make them known. 



[The largest of them] Lepus alpinus, Pallas, is the size of a Guinea-pig, and yellowish-red. It inhabits the most 

 elevated mountain summits, where it passes the summer in selecting and drying the herbage for its winter pro- 

 vision. Its hay-stacks, which are sometimes six or seven feet high, are a valuable resource for the Horses of the 

 Sable-hunters. 



Some fossil remains have been discovered of an unknown species of Pika, in the accumulations of osseous 

 breccia in the island of Corsica. 



After the two genera of Porcupines and Hares, come the rodents which Linnseus and Pallas 

 brought together under the name of Cavia, but for which it is impossible to assign any other 

 constant and positive character than the imperfection of their clavicles, thou"-h the various 

 species are not without analogy in the aspect of their body and manners. They are all from 

 the New Continent. 



The Capybara {Hydrochcerus, Erxleben) — 

 Has four toes before, and only three behind, all of them armed with stout claws, and connected 

 together by membranes ; four grinding teeth above and below, the last of which [especially in the 

 lower jaw] are the longest, all composed of numerous simple and parallel laminae ; the anterior of 

 these laminae forked towards the outer edge in the upper, and towards the inner one in the lower 

 teeth. Only one species is known. 



The Capybara (Cavia capybara, Lin.), as large 

 as a Siamese Pig, with very thick muzzle, short 

 legs, coarse yellowish-brown hair, and no tail. 

 Inhabits the rivers of Guiana and the Amazons, 

 where it lives in troops: is a good swimmer, and 

 the largest [existing] species of the Rodentia. 

 The Beaver alone approaches it in size. 



The Cavies, popularly termed Guinea-pigs, 



{Ancsma, Y. Cuv. ; Cavia, lllig.), — 

 Are miniatiu"es of the Capybara, except that 

 their toes are separated, and their molars 

 have each only a simple lamina, together 

 with a forked one externally in those above, 

 ^»p>''»"- and on the inside in the lower. 



The species best known is the common domestic Cavy, or Guinea-pig (Cavia cobaia, Pallas; Mits porcelliis, 

 Lin.), extremely common now in Europe, where it is bred in houses, under the [mistaken] supposition that its 

 odour drives away Rats. It varies in colour like other domestic animals. [Six or seven species are now known, 

 one of which, the Patagonian Cavy (C. patachonica, Pen.), is much larger than the rest, with remarkably long 

 limbs : the author suspected it to be an Agouti. Some separate it by the appellation Dolichntis.] 



The Mocos {Kerodon, F. Cuv.) — 

 Have grinders rather more simple than those of the Cavies, each being formed of Iwo triangular 

 prisms. 



The only known species is also from Brazil, somewhat surpassing the Guinea-pig in size, and of an olive-grey 

 colour. 



* The Irish Hare has only recently been distinguished, and hits i Common Hare was unknown. Great numbers of the latter, however, 

 hitherto been met with only in that island, where, until lately, the | liave been turned loose there during' the last twi IvemnntU. 



