MAMMALIA—CAVY. 263 
and conducts the smoke in such a manner that it fills the whole cavity. 
While this is doing, the poor little animal seems sensible of its danger, 
begs for quarter with a most plaintive cry, but seldom quits its hole till the 
utmost extremity. 
The agouti seems to be a native of the south parts of America; nor is it 
at all known in the Old Continent. It is, however, very common in Brazil, 
Guiana, St Domingo, and all the islands around. To the cold and tempe- 
rate regions of America this animal 1s a stranger. 
DHE Pod CA ge ORogS 2.0 Teh beDy CAV ¥! 
fs an animal.of the New World, who digs a burrow like a rabbit, to which 
he has been compared, though there is scarcely any likeness between these 
two animals; he is much larger than the rabbit, and even than the hare; 
he has a round head, and the snout short; he is fat and bulky, and by the 
form of his body he is more like a pig, as well as by grunting, waddling, 
and the manner of eating; for he does not use, as the rabbit does, his fore 
feet to carry food to his mouth; but grubs up the earth like the hog, to find 
his subsistence. The color of the back is dark brown, or liver colered; but 
is lighter on the sides, which are beautifully marked with lines of white 
spots, running in parallel directions from its throat to its rump; those on the 
upper part of the body are perfectly distinct; the belly is white. Its head 
is large ; its ears short and naked; its eyes full, and placed high in its head, 
near the ears; it has two strong yellow cutting teeth in each jaw; its 
mouth is small; its upper lip divided; and it has long whiskers on its lips, 
1 Celogenys sobriger, Desm. The genus Celogenys has two upper and two lower 
incisors ; no canines; eight Oppee and eight lower molars. Five toes on all the feet; the 
external and internal toe behind being nearly rudimentary; nails conical, strong, for 
digging; cheek pouches; a naked tubercle in place of a tail; two pectoral and two 
inguinal mamme. 
