THE PACA. 29] 
deric Cuvier for pointing out the distinctions between 
the two species, which consist principally m colour and 
in the form of their heads. In the brown, the general 
colour is dusky with a deeper shade on the back and a 
tinge of grayish white on the under parts ; while in the 
other species it is of a bright golden fawn-colour on 
the back and sides. Both are marked by four or five 
longitudinal bands passing from the shoulders to the 
haunches, and formed of oblong whitish spots, some- 
times running completely together, and sometimes en- 
tirely separate from each other. The lower ones have 
the greatest tendency to unite into continuous bands, 
and the last on either side is frequently blended with 
the white of the under surface of the body. There is 
in fact so much similarity in their markings that we 
should place but little confidence in the distinction 
founded on the difference of colour alone, were it not 
confirmed by more striking characters, derived from the 
examination of the skulls. The bones of the head are 
in the brown species perfectly smooth on their surface, 
and the zygomatic arches form a much less prominent 
sweep than in the fawn-coloured, in which the numerous 
projecting tubercles that cover the bones are distinctly 
perceptible through the unevenness of the skin. 
These animals are found in the whole of the eastern 
division of South America from Surinam to Paraguay, 
and formerly existed in some of the islands of the West 
Indies. They take up their abode in the forests, espe- 
cially in the vicinity of water, and conceal themselves 
in superficial burrows, which their claws are well fitted 
for excavating. They are said to form three openings 
to each burrow, and to cover them up with dry leaves 
and branches. In order to take them alive the natives 
stop up two of these openings and dig up the third ; 
but the animal frequently makes an obstinate defence, 
vu 2 
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