THE AGOUTIS— THE PACA 215 



showing much variation of colour, when the Spaniards invaded South 

 America; the natural wild colour is the uniform grizzly brown, called 

 "Agouti" by our fanciers. There is no need to say very much about 

 this well-known little animal, which always attracts attention by its 

 greediness and noisy squeaking, almost as much as by its variegated 

 colours ; but it is worth while to mention its remarkable precocity. 

 Young Guinea-Pigs are not only born fully furred and with their eyes 

 open, but also soon begin to run, and are provided with teeth ; they 

 will sometimes start eating solid food on the very day of their birth. 

 As they really are good eating — as good as Rabbits in any case — and 

 are even easier to keep than those animals, it is a pity they are not 

 more utilised for table purposes. When cooked, they should be scalded, 

 scraped, and fried. 



THE AGOUTIS 



The Agoutis {Dasyproctd) are a group of rodents belonging to a 

 family {Dasyproctidcs) closely allied to the Cavies, and, like them, 

 especially South American, but also found in the West Indies. 



They are about as big as small Hares, with Rat-like heads and 

 rather long legs, so that they walk and run freely. The tail is very 

 short and hardly noticeable, except in the Acouchy (D. acouchy), but 

 ■even in this species it is small and insignificant. Agoutis have a 

 close hard coat of grizzled yellow and black, producing a brown effect ; 

 they are forest animals, living in small parties on the ground, where 

 they feed on fallen ffuit and nuts, roots, &c, sitting up and holding 

 their food in their fore-paws, like most rodents. In captivity they do 

 very well, and sometimes display an instinct for hiding superfluous 

 food. Their flesh is eaten and appreciated in their own country, where 

 they are accordingly much valued as game animals. 



THE PACA 



[Coclogenys pacd) 



The Paca, or Labba, belongs to the same family as the Agoutis, but 

 in form resembles a Guinea-Pig, being heavy and thick-set; it is a 

 good-sized animal, being about two feet long. Its cheeks are peculiarly 



