CHAPTER IV. 



THE SEWELLELS, PORCUPJNES, AND CAVRES. 



THE FAMILY HAPLOODONTIDiE — THE FAMILY CHINCHILLILyE-^THE CHINCHILLAS AND VISACHAS — 

 THE OCTODONTIDaE — THE HUTIA CONGA — THE DEGU-^THE TUKOTUKO — THE GUNDY — THE 

 COYPU — THE GROUND PIG — THE CANADIAN PORCUPINE — THE BRAZILIAN PORCUPINE — THE 

 COMMON PORCUPINE — THE TUFTED TAILED PORCUPINE — THE AGOUTI — THE SOOTY PACA — 

 THE CAPYBARA — THE GUINEA PIG — THE MARA — THE PIKAS. 



THE family Haploodontid^ has been constituted by Professor 

 Lilljeborg to comprise some curious rst-Jike animals having 

 affinities with both the Beavers and Marmots, and inhabiting 

 the West Coast of America from the southern part of British Colum- 

 bia to the mountains of California. It contains only one genus. 



GENUS HAPLOODON. 



According to Wallace there are two species of this genus b their 

 generic characteristics are a stout, heavy form, a cylindrical bcdy, 

 short legs, flat head, bushy tail, and very long whiskers. The eyes are 

 small, the under-fur is woolly, the walk is plantigrade. 



The Sewellel, Haploodon rufus, was first discovered during the 

 expedition of Clark and Lewis to the Columbia River in 1805. It lives 

 in communities like the prairie dog, sitting upon mounds at its burrows, 

 and whistling as the latter do in the early morning. It is about as large 

 as the musk rat ; its color is brown mixed with black, with grayer tints 

 on the abdomen. Little is known of its habits, but it seems to be ascer- 

 tained that it is not a hibernating animal. The name is derived from the 

 Nisqually language. The Indians hunt them for their skins, which the)' 

 sew together and dress with the fur on. It is said to cut bundles of 

 herbs and place them out to dry for future use. One species is found 

 north of the Columbia River, the other in California. 



The family ChinchilliEvE is confined to the Alpine zones of the 



