410 THE CAVY TRIBE. 



slips, and embroider with them their baskets, belts, 

 &c. in a great variety of ornamental figures*. — 

 The flesh is said to be excellent eating, and is fre- 

 quently introduced at the pohtest tables at the 

 Cape-j-. According to Kolben, it is better when 

 hanged a day or two in the chimney. 



THE CAVY TRIBE. 



These animals were arranged by Linnseiis along 

 with the mice ; but that tribe Jiaving been thoug;ht 

 much tooextensive, and comprehending manyaniinals 

 that differed very materially both in form and habit, 

 it was at length thought necessary to arrange the 

 Cavies under a separate head ; distinguishing them 

 by the structure of their feet, the proportion of their 

 hmbs, &c. the teeth being nearly the same in all. 

 ^ — They have in each jaw two wedge-shaped front- 

 teeth, and eight grinders. They have likewise four 

 or five toes on the fore feet, and from three to five 

 on the hinder. The tail is cither very short, or alto- 

 gether wanting. And they have no collar bones ■^. 



They seem to hold a middle place between the 

 murine quadrupeds and the Hares. Nearly all the 

 species, wdiich arc seven in number, have a slow, 

 and some of them a leaping pace. Their habita- 

 tions are burrows ; which they form beneath the 

 roots of trees, or in the ground. They live entirely 

 on vegetable food, and arc all natives of America : 



• Church. t Viiilliiut, i. 321. % Linn. Gmel. i. 1-20. 



