242 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



and reddish ; the dorsal line is blacker than the rest of the 

 body, and the legs are nearly black. The incisive teeth are 

 of a deep yellow colour ; the cheek-teeth, four on each side 

 in both jaws, have their crowns perfectly flat, oval, 

 notched on each side, and crossed by some regular ridges. 

 There are twelve mammae. 



The Agouti is an inhabitant of Guiana, Brazil, Para- 

 guay, and some of the Antilles. D'Azara says, expressly, 

 that there are none in Rio de la Plata ; nor does it appear 

 that they are found in Mexico : it is extremely common in 

 Guiana ; but has been driven off such of the Antilles as are 

 well cultivated : they are not to be seen in Martinique, but 

 are found in St. Lucy, and seem to be extremely rare in 

 St. Domingo. It is an extremely voracious animal, and 

 eats almost all sorts of vegetable food, but its favourite is 

 nuts of all sorts ; it will not, however, refuse flesh. 



It generally feeds sitting on the haunches. When the 

 supply is plentiful, it conceals its superabundance in clefts, 

 or holes in the earth, and is said sometimes to leave it there 

 for six months together. It drinks lapping, arid its urine 

 is extremely foetid. 



Its motions are very rapid, particularly on rising ground ; 

 but it is subject, like the Hare, to roll over in descending a 

 hill, and from the same cause, of the length of the hind 

 legs. It is active during day, and troops of twenty and 

 more are often seen in Cayenne running together. It sits 

 frequently on the heels, in the manner of Squirrels, and 

 then rubs the head and ears with the fore-paws. It prefers 

 woods and covered places, and generally lives in the cleft of 

 a tree. The female prepares a bed of leaves for her young, 

 which are born in a perfect state, rather more than six 

 inches in length ; she carries them about from place to place. 

 The period of lactation and nonage is short. 



It appears that the Agouti can be easily tamed ; but this is 

 not often attempted, on account of the mischief the animal 



