ORDER RODENTIA. 209 



side, and on the legs are a few hairs interspersed among 

 the spines of those parts. 



The habits of an animal may, in almost all cases, be an- 

 ticipated by a consideration of its make and organs. That 

 this is true, in a general way, is beyond all doubt ; but it 

 is also true, in most cases, to an extent not so obvious at 

 first sight. It must be admitted, indeed, in regard to the 

 spiny quadrupeds, that there are few organs of animals, 

 few incidents to their physicalities less apparent in their 

 object, and perhaps less influential in their habits, 

 than the spines. They seem of no use in enabling the 

 animal to procure its proper food ; and if they are mate- 

 rial to it for self-preservation from external violence, we do 

 not observe any corresponding deficiency of self -protection, 

 or excessive degree of exposure, to call for any extraordi- 

 nary means of protection. When it is said, therefore, that 

 the organs of a species generally proclaim its habits, the 

 spiny races may be considered as forming an exception to 

 the observation, in regard at least to these excrescences. 



But the prehensile, or rather subprehensile tail of this 

 particular species, 'which, as we have observed, methodical 

 writers have employed to distinguish it as a genus, bespeak 

 its habits of living in trees ; nor are we disappointed in 

 this expectation, the Couendou is in fact a tenant of the 

 forest, climbs with great facility, by means of its claws, but 

 is said to avail itself of the holding power of its tail only 

 when descending. In common with other inhabitants of trees, 

 the Couendou, when on the ground, is awkward, and as it 

 were out of his element ; its motions are then slow, and ap« 

 parently painful, nor does the animal seem willing to move, 

 till the imperious dictates of hunger rouse him to action. 

 The sustenance of the animal is also found in trees ; it con- 

 sists of fruit, leaves, and flowers, and even the wood when 

 young, which it cuts with ease, by means of its strong in- 

 cisors, common to the whole order. It has, however, none 



