262 MAMMALIA—AGOUTI. 
latter chance to be dirtied, the mother will never again suffer them to come 
near her. If kept in a room, it seldom crosses the floor, but creeps round 
by the wall. 
These animals are so delicate, that it is with difficulty they undergo the 
rigors of winter. When they feel the cold, they assemble together, press 
close to one another, and in this situation are frequently found dead. 

THE AGO: fT. 

Tris animal is about the size of a hare, and has been considered, errone- 
ously, as « kind of rabbit, or large rat, by the generality of nomenclators. 
As it has the hair of a hog, so also it has the voracious appetite of that 
animal. It eats indiscriminately of all things; and when satiated, it hides 
the remainder, like the dog or the fox, for a future occasion. 
It does not, like the rabbit, dig a hole in the ground, but burrows in the 
holes of trees. Its ordinary food consists of the roots of the country, pota- 
toes, yams, and such fruits as fall from the trees in autumn. It uses its 
fore paws like the squirrel, to carry its food to its mouth; and as its hind 
feet are longer than the fore ones, it runs very swiftly upon plain ground, or 
up a hill, but upon a descent it is in danger of falling. Its sight is excel- 
lent; its hearing equals that of any other animal; and whenever it is 
whistled to, it stops to hearken. The flesh is dressed like that ef a suck- 
ing pig, and of such as are well fed, is tolerable food, though it has always 
a peculiar taste, and is rather rough. 
It is hunted by dogs; and whenever it goes into a sugar ground, where the 
canes cover the place, it is easily overtaken ; for it is embarrassed every step 
ittakes, so that aman may easily come up with itand kill it, without any other 
assistance than a stick. When in the open country, it usually runs with 
great swiftness before the dogs until it gains its retreat, within which it 
continues to hide, and nothing but filling the hole with smoke can force it 
out. For this purpose the hunter burns faggots or straw at the entrance, 

1 Dasyprocta acuti, Lix. The genus Dasyprocta has two upper and two lower inci- 
sors ; no canines; eight upper and eight lower molars. Head rather elongated ; fore- 
head flat; muzzle thick; eyes large and projecting; fore feet with four toes and a rudi- 
mentary thumb; hind legs longer than those before, with three toes and strong nails; 
sole of the foot naked and callous. 
