358 



TYPES OF ANIMAL LIFE 



the two middle-foot bones of the feet of most ruminants.* 

 They are all Old World forms. 



A noted South American rodent is the coypu, which 

 attains a length of two feet. It inhabits the rivers in 

 South America and feeds on aquatic plants. 



Fig. 94. 



THE JERBOA. 



The true " fretful porcupine '' is an exclusively Old 

 World form of rodent, which may be eaten at the 

 Falcone Tavern at Rome. It extends south-eastwards to 

 Borneo. In India it forms extensive burrows, often 

 living socially and inflicting great damage on various 

 crops. They never issue forth till after dark, but some 

 * See '■Bison," ante, p. ig6. 



