EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 



the Count de BufFon's defcription*, where it is faid not 

 to be nimble, to run but feldom, and then with a bad 

 grace ;" which may all be the cafe in a domeftic flate (for 

 the Paca is capable of being tamed) but he is not fluggifti 

 in a flate of nature. This I know to be true, having 

 feen him run like a hare. We had this animal dreffed 

 for fupper, and found him even more delicious than the 

 wood-rat, or even the warra-bofena : indeed, nothing can 

 l>e better eating than the Paca or fpotted Cavy. 



The long-nofed Cavy, better known by the name of the 

 Agouti Pacarara, or Indian Coney, is alfo very common in 

 Surinam : this is the fize of a large rabbit, its colour is an 

 orange brown, the belly yellow ; the legs black and flen- 

 der, with four toes on the fore-feet, and three on the 

 hindermofl: ; the ears fmall, the eyes a bright black, the 

 upper lip divided ; it has whifkers, and its tail is like 

 that of the Paca. This animal breeds very fait, and fuckles 

 its young, which are three or four in number, in con- 

 cealed holes of old trees, Sec. where it alfo retires for fhel- 

 ter if purfued ; but it does not feek its food in the earthy 

 like the former. The Agouti is eafily tamed, and feeds 

 -on fruits, roots, nuts, Sec. But its fiefli, though very 

 good, is not fo delicious as that of the Paca. 



In Surinam I have been told there is ftill another fpecies 

 of the Agouti, called the Indian Rat-Coney, on account of 

 its having a long tail. This I never faw, unlefs it is the 



* See BuiFon's Natural Hiftory, Vol, V, page 39, 



Vol. II, Z fame 



