14 
much larger, sometimes nearly as large again, his 
front limbs are longer in proportion, and the hair, 
with the exception of the mane, is considerably 
shorter. Both these animals inhabit the shores of 
Order VII. 
Rodentia. 
Behring’s Straits, and were formerly very abundant 
on Behring’s Island; but the Sea Lion is now 
getting scarce, though the Sea Bear is still common 
there, 
(Gnawing Animals.) 
(Plates XII—XIV.) 
The most remarkable peculiarities of the Rodents, 
or Gnawing Animals, consist in the two large curved 
incisors in the upper and lower jaws, and in the gaps 
between these and the molars. The head is planted 
on a short thick neck, the large eyes are very pro- 
minent, and the fleshy lips are furnished with whiskers, 
and are cleft in front. The senses of these animals 
are usually well-developed, but they are not generally 
remarkable for intelligence. 
The Hystriccd@, or Porcupines, are rather large 
Rodents, furnished with strong spines, which are 
differently arranged in different species. They inhabit 
the warm and temperate parts of both the Old and 
the New Worlds. Some have short tails and dig 
burrows in the ground, and others have short tails 
and live in trees. All the Porcupines are nocturnal 
animals, and feed on fruits and roots. 
The. Common Porcupine (Hystvix cristata, 
Plate XII. fig. e) is about three feet long, and stands 
a foot high without the spines. It has a long mane 
of stiff bristles on the back of the neck, and the 
back and sides are covered with spines, mixed with 
bristles. It is found in North Africa, Greece, and 
Southern Italy. It conceals itself in its burrow by 
day, but comes forth at night to search for the roots 
on which it feeds. 
The Cavizde have comparatively large ears, a 
stumpy tail, and broad hoof-like claws. They are 
found in South and Central America, some species 
being exclusively land animals and others frequenting 
the neighbourhood of water. 
The Guinea Pig (Cavza cobaya, Plate XII. fig. f) 
does not come from Africa, but from South America, 
and is domesticated in Europe. It has not yet been 
positively ascertained, from which of several closely- 
allied wild species it was originally derived. 
The type of the family Dasyproctide is the Agouti 
(Dasyprocta aguti, Plate XIII. fig. a). It is very like 
a hare, but differs from it by its long pointed muzzle, 
short ears, and the structure of the legs. The front 
legs are short, and have four toes, but the hind legs 
are twice as long, and are provided with three toes. 
The claws are lorg, thick, and almost hoof-like. The 
rough shining hair is of a reddish yellow, intermixed 
with dark brown. The Agouti is common in many 
parts of South America, and is very shy, wary and 
active. It feeds on fruits, roots, leaves &c. 
The Arctomyide, or Marmots, are stout-bodied 
short-tailed Rodents of moderate size. They dig 
burrows and chambers in the ground, which they 
store with grains and roots, and they sleep through 
the greater part of the winter. During the warmer 
months, they play about their burrows in company, 
and feed on worms and insects, as well as on vege- 
table substances. They are shy and wary in a state 
of nature, but are easily tamed. They are found in 
Central Europe, Northern Asia and North America. 
The Marmot (Arctomys marmotta, Plate XIIL. 
fig. c) is found in the high mountains of Europe such 
as the Alps, Pyrenees and Carpathians, close to the 
mit of perpetual snow. In summer it is watched 



for, and shot, and in winter it is dug out of its 
burrows. The flesh is delicate, and the fur is soft 
and warm. : 
The Scewrzdee, or squirrels are among the most 
active and elegant of the Rodents. The body is 
slender, the eyes are large and the ears are very 
variously formed. The tail is rather long and very 
bushy, and the hind legs have five toes, and are 
longer than the fore legs, which have only four toes. 
Squirrels may generally be seen in the daytime, but 
a few are nocturnal in their habits. They either 
frequent trees, or live in burrows in the ground. 
The Squirrel (Sccurus vulgaris, Plate XIIL. fig. d) 
is an ornament to the woods and forests of Europe, 
and of some portions of Northern and Central Asia. 
The tufts on the ears, and the bushy tail give this 
animal a very pretty appearance. When he sits on 
his hind legs, he holds his tail raised over his back. 
He is as good a climber as a monkey, and leaps 
from tree to tree, balancing himself with his tail. 
Squirrel’s nests resemble those of magpies, and are built 
in hollow trees. Here the animal sleeps at night 
and on rainy days, as well as through the greater 
part of the winter, for which, however, like the 
marmots, he lays in a store of provisions beforehand. 
The Myoxride, or Dormice offer a great contrast 
to the lively squirrels, for they are nocturnal animals. 
They hide themselves by day in hollow trees and 
in the clefts of rocks, and feed at night on seeds 
and fruits. They all inhabit the Old World, chiefly 
in temperate climates. 
The Loir (Gis vulgaris, Plate XIII. fig. e) is 
not uncommon in Southern and Eastern Europe, and 
prefers dry oak and beech woods. It measures nine 
inches in length, of which the tail forms nearly one- 
half. This animal is ashy grey, with the sides paler, 
and the undersurface white. The tail is rather bushy, 
and the hairs are arranged in a double row. 
The Rats and Mice belong to the family Murda. 
They have a pointed muzzle, large eyes, and broad 
ears, and some are furnished with cheek-pouches. 
The body is generally long, and clothed with smooth 
hair, and the tail is long or short, hairy or naked in 
different species. The legs are slender, furnished 
with five toes, and armed with sharp claws. 
Mice are found in all parts of the world. They 
are cunning and comparatively intelligent animals. 
The Hamster (C7zcetus frumentarins, Plate XII. 
fig. b) is like a mouse with a rather stout body, and 
a short tail sparingly clothed with hair. It is about 
a foot long. It is of a brownish yellow colour above, 
and black below, yellow before and behind the front 
legs, and the feet white. It inhabits level country 
in Northern Europe and Asia where much corn is 
grown, and makes complicated burrows underground, 
where it lays up a store for itself which is frequently 
found to contain nearly from fifty to a hundred pounds’ 
weight of grain &c. at the beginning of winter. 
The Mouse (A/us musculus, Plate XIII. fig. g) 
is known to everyone as a timid and very active 
little creature. 
vel sidie  etlbal 
