ORDER RODENTIA. 215 



with impunity, and will return to it with equal free- 

 dom. 



Their length is about thirty inches ; the tail an inch and 

 a half, without hair, thick, and as hard as a piece of wood ; 

 it is incapable of motion, cylindrical and truncated, and 

 slightly curved towards its origin. 



The anterior height of the animal is about sixteen inches 

 and a half; the posterior about nineteen and a half; and 

 the circumference measured, under the cheek, about fifteen 

 inches and a half. 



There are four toes on the front feet ; the nails are sharp, 

 black, strong, and adapted for digging; one toe is larger than 

 the rest, and the internal toe is next in size ; the others are 

 nearly equal ; on the sole of the fore-foot is a callosity, 

 which is bare, and not very hard, about the size of a wal- 

 nut. There is another similar callosity on the hinder foot, 

 but of a larger size; both resemble, in form, a top, the 

 axis of which is perpendicular to the base, which base is 

 situated in the sole of the feet ; the tarsus is about seven 

 inches long, comprehending the nails, and is exceedingly 

 callous from the heel half way; it is this tarsus which 

 rests upon the soil, and supports the animal, for it cannot 

 employ the remainder of the foot for this purpose, in con- 

 sequence of the callosity above-mentioned, which occasions 

 considerable inconvenience. 



There are three toes on the hind feet, and they are 

 longer than those upon the fore ; the middle one is the 

 longest of the three, and the two lateral ones are of an 

 equal size. 



The limbs are slender, but sufficiently nervous and mus- 

 cular ; the head has a slight resemblance to that of the 

 Hare, but rather more compressed at the sides. The upper 

 jaw has more height than width, and is embellished with 

 long and black mustachios; there are also some above the 



