ORDER RODENTIA. 73 



The Quouiya ofd'Azara (Mus Coypus), Molin et Gm. 



It lives in burrows, on the banks of rivers, in a 

 considerable part of South America. It ap- 

 proaches the Cabiai in size, and resembles it in 

 the colour of the hair, but is distinguished by 

 the fineness of this hair, and above all by the 

 down which constitutes its basis ; by its long 

 tail, the number of its toes, SfC. 



The Rats, properly so called (Mus, Guv.), 



Have, throughout, three molars, with blunt tuber- 

 cles, the anterior of which is the largest. Their tail 

 is long and scaly. These species are very hurtful 

 from their fecundity, and the voracity with which 

 they gnaw and devour substances of all kinds. 

 There are three kinds very common in houses, vis ; 



The Mouse (Mus Musculus, Lin.), Buff. VII. xxxix. 

 Universally known in all times and countries. 



The Common Rat (Mus Rattus, Lin.), Buff. VII, xxxvr. 



Of which the ancients have not spoken, and 

 which appears to have penetrated into Europe 

 during the middle ages. It is more than double 

 the Mouse in all its dimensions. The skin is 

 blackish. 



