THE SPOTTED CAVY. 



noife, like that creature, more efpecially when irritated, when it likewife 

 exprefles its anger by chattering its teeth. It feeds on all forts of grain, 

 roots, fruit, and almoft all kinds of vegetables: it frequents fenny places and 

 the banks of rivers, where it lives concealed in burrows under ground: it 

 grows very fat, and is accordingly much fought after. As thefe animals 

 feldom quit their hole during the day, they are ufually difcovered by Dogs, 

 trained for the purpofe, who point out their lurking places, over which the 

 hunter digs, and when he comes near the animal, transfixes it with a knife, 

 to prevent its efcape. When preiTed hard, they will bite dreadfully, and 

 make a defperate defence. Man is not their only enemy : every beafi: and 

 bird of prey watches their motions, and is fure to feize them, if they ftray 

 from home. Thus attacked on all fides, the fpecies would foon become 

 extinct, were not the animal fo prolific, that the diminution, if any, is 

 imperceptible. 



This animal inhabits Brafil and Guiana. 



