ZOOLOGY. 



Si 



The flesh of some of the species is accounted delicate 

 food ; their spines are used for pointing arrows^ fish-gigs, 

 and other purposes. 



2. Cavia. Cavy. Front teeth two, wedge-shaped ; grinders 



eight ; toes on the fore-feet four or five ; on the hind- 

 feet fiom three to five; tail either short or wanting; 

 clavicles or collar bones wanting. 



This is a prolific genus, some of the species producing 

 from four to eight at a birth, and breeding many times in the 

 year ; some kinds nestle in hollow tress, others bu) row in 

 the ground ; they are exceedingly timid, and retire to 

 their nests on the smallest a^^rm ; they feed on vegefables ; 

 the flpsh of some kinds is eai.^n by the inhabitants of 

 various countries. 



3. Castor. Beaver. Upper /rc?2^ ^ec^/z triiiicate, hollowed 



in a transvprse angle, the lower transverse at the tips; 

 grinders four iii each jaw ; tail loisg, depressed, scaly ; 

 claviclds perfect. 



" The industry and ingonuity of the Beaver (when in a state 

 of society) is perhaps greater than that of auy other qua- 

 druped ; tliey associate in numbers of from thirty to sixty 

 pairs, and form extensive ranges of buildings, of such strenii:th 

 and solidity, as to anp^-sr rather ihe work of some ingeiv'ous 

 architect than the labojir of brutes. They ft A on the 

 leaves and bark of trees, of the latter they accumulate a 

 large store for their winter provision ; in default of w iiicli 

 tliey devour crabs and fish; they s.vim and dive admirably, 

 and are capable of rcnuuiihig under water for a coubiderablc 



