160 BR. 10. A. GOELUI UX TJIE [JlUie 7. 



pyramidal, while that of the Paca is subconical, due to its promi- 

 nent cheek-bones and bulging eyes and the more slender snout. 

 The former thus resembles more the head of the Capybara. 

 What gives to the head a peculiar martial aspect are the immense 

 white whiskei-s, equal in length to the animal's head, forming 

 a thick tuft on each side. The nostrils are S-shaped, and 

 have the same valvular ari-angement for closing the aperture 

 as the Manatee, for example, showing that the animal is adapted 

 to a semi-aquatic life. While the prominent eyes of the Pacn, 

 like large black beads, have a glaring glossy aspect, the eyes 

 of the Dinomys ai'e not sit all prominent, are of a soft light brown 

 coloui-, the pupil being a vertical slit during the hours of day- 

 light. They are thus of similar appearance to the eyes of 

 certain smaller Didelphyid;e {Dideljjhys g-^wcw, &c.)andof the large 

 Two-clawed Sloth [Cholmjms didactylus); and this similarity 

 natui-ally leads to the conclusion that the animal is rather of 

 nocturnal habits — a conclusion which is corroborated by actual 

 observation. Both front and hind feet are four-toed. The 

 general build of Dinomys is thick-set and inclined to corpulency. 

 Due to the fact of setting the whole plantigi-ade sole on the 

 ground, the hind feet esi^ecially, the Dinomys has a waddling 

 gait, and reminds one of an immense rat well advanced in 

 development towards a bear. 



Both my specimens of Dinomys ai-e of a peaceful, phlegmatic 

 disposition ; the}^ are most excellent boardei'S in our Zoological 

 Garden, and cause veiy little trouble on condition of having 

 enough to eat. They devoui' pi'odigious heaps of provendei-, 

 eating being one of their principal occupations both day and 

 night. As far as observed up to the present, they show a 

 preference foi- bread, squashes, and fruit of diffei-ent indigenous 

 palm-trees, such as the oiunge-coloui-ed '• Tucuma " {Astrocaryum 

 Piicuma). While eating, their favoiu'ite position is standing erect 

 on the hind feet, and in this attitude there is a good o]3portunity 

 of admiring the dextei-ous mannei- in which they can hold a fruit in 

 theii' paws, notwithstanding the lack of the counter-j)i'essure of a 

 thumb. Such a fruit i-evoh'es in theii- gi-asji as though it were in 

 the chuck of a slowly-turning lathe, and the lai'ge chips which fly 

 fill us with i-espect foi- the immense gouging faculty of the large 

 but comparatively slightly iji'ominent incisors. The ei'ect position 

 while eating — which is the only attitude thus far- obsei-ved while 

 taking food — reminds one more of the "Cutia" {Dasyproctci) 

 among the larger South- American Rodents, and forms a note- 

 worthy difierence fi-om the '' Paca," which I have never seen 

 eating in any other position than on all fours. 



The predominant feature of the character of Dinomys is a com- 

 bination of leisurely movements and supreme good natui-e. It 

 knows absolutely nothing of liaste. Spending the greater part of 

 the day sleeping in a comer — the mothei- often lying upon the 

 young one, or standing over it, as if to protect and to keep it 

 warm — opening its half-closed eyes only when it hears the 



