HYDROCH^ERUS CAPY13ABA. 4-27 



the same way ; and thus a whole family may be killed in 



detail. 



HYDROCHtEKUS capybara. 



In all parts of the continent, — on the hanks of the streams 

 flowing through the Llanos of Venezuela, as well as by the 

 side of the La Plata and its tributaries, — the capybara, the 

 largest rodent in existence, may be seen, seated on its haunches, 

 like others of its family. It is of the size of a moderately 

 large hog about two years old. It has a large head, and thick 

 divided nose, on each side of which are long whiskers. The 

 ears are small and rounded ; the eyes are black and of con- 

 siderable size ; and the upper jaw much longer than the lower, 

 - — which gives the face a curious appearance. The body is 

 thick, covered with short, coarse brown hair, and destitute of 

 a tail. The neck is short, as are the legs — with remarkably 

 long feet, which are also very broad, the claws of a blunt 

 form, and approximate in shape to the hoofs of the Pachy- 

 dermata. They are partly webbed, and thus adapted to the 

 aquatic life it enjoys, and which has gained for it the name of 

 the water-hog. Though it feeds on vegetables, it is also fond 

 of fish, to catch which it enters the water, swimming after 

 them with the rapidity of an otter. When seen at a distance 

 as they run over the ground, from their colour they look 

 like pigs; but when seen seated on their haunches, attentively 

 watching any object with one eye, as is their habit, their true 

 character is known. 



Darwin describes his observing a party of several. As he 

 approached nearer and nearer they made their peculiar noise, 

 — which is a low, abrupt grunt, not having much actual sound, 

 but rather arising from the sudden expulsion of air. The 

 only noise like it is the first hoarse bark of a large dog. 



