CAPYBARA, PACA, CO ATI. 347 



I did not see this animal, but heard of its appearance fre- 

 quently on the River Para near Pitanguy. There are many places 

 named after it. Captain Burton mentions * having seen it on the 

 banks of the Parahybiina, near the grand precipice of the Pedra 

 da Fortaleza, on the borders of Minas Geraes and Rio de Janeiro. 

 The Indian name is capi-uara, from caapiim, grass, gudra, eater. 

 It is gregarious. M. Liais terms it cabiai or capiguara. There 

 is only one existing species. Remains have been found in late 

 tertiary deposits of a species larger than the tapir. 



The paca. — I have referred to this animal more than once as 

 being very excellent for food. It is the Ccelogenus (F. Cuvier) or 

 Ccelogenys (lUiger) paca. M. Liais f points out that both these 

 names are erroneous : first, etymologically ; secondly, as not being 

 characteristic of the genus. Thus the name Calogenus is supposed 

 to be derived from koilos, a pouch, genus, a cheek ; then the name 

 should be Genys-cmlus. But then, again, other rodents exist with 

 this characteristic. The species, which is the only one of the 

 genus, should, according to M. Liais, be termed Paca Americanus. 

 It exists throughout Brazil, Guiana, and Paraguay. After dilating 

 on their anatomy, M. Liais says, " They run very quickly, jump 

 well over obstacles, and swim and plunge in a remarkable manner. 

 They generally seek damp forests and the borders of rivers. They 

 do not dig, nor cover up the opening of their burrow with straw, 

 as has been said ; but take advantage of the holes dug by other 

 animals, notably those of the tatus. . . . They visit sugar-cane 

 plantations, maize, and potato fields. Their flesh is very delicate 

 (trh recherchl), and they are much hunted, for which purpose 

 dogs are specially trained. 



CoATi {Plantigrada). 



These little animals are closely allied to the true bears. I 

 have mentioned seeing two specimens ; one in the forest near 

 Paraopdba, the other brought on board for sale at Pernambuco. 

 The former was very fierce, having just been caught, and uttered 

 loud cries, while biting at everything within reach ; the latter was 



* "Highlands of Brazil," vol. i. p. 43. 

 t " Climats, Faune," etc., pp. 537, etc. 



