94 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



We know but of one species, Buff. VIII. i. now 

 much bred in Europe, where they are brought up 

 in houses, because their odour is thought to drive 

 away Rats. They vary in colour, like all domesti- 

 cated animals. It seems probable that they proceed 

 from an animal of America, called Aperea, of the 

 same size and form, but with an uniform reddish- 

 gray fur. They are found in the woods of Brazil 

 and Paraguay. 



The Agoutis, Cuv. (Chloromys, F. Cuv. Dasyprocta, Illig.) 



Have four toes before, three behind ; four cheek- 

 teeth on each side in each jaw, nearly equal, with 

 flat irregularly ridged crowns, Of a circular contour, 

 indented in the internal edge in the upper jaw, and 

 on the external of the lower. They resemble in dis- 

 position, and in the nature of the flesh, our Hares 

 and Rabbits, which they may be said to represent, 

 in the Antilles and hot parts of America. 



The Common Agouti, {Cavia Acuti, L.) Buff. VIII. l. 



With the tail reduced to a simple tubercle ; fur 

 brown-yellow on the crupper in the male ; as big 

 as a Hare. 



The Acouchi } (Cavia Acuchi, Gm.) Buff. Sup. III. xxxvi. 



The tail with six or seven vertebrae ; fur brown 

 above and yellow underneath, as big as a 



Rabbit. 



