SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, kc. 229 



fierce animal, frequently making attacks upon the sheep and 

 hogs of the plantations, and even sometimes upon the natives, 

 especially at the breeding season. 



The tiger cat of Guyana is something larger than a com- 

 mon house cat ; its eyes fiery, longer tail and ears, and the 

 skin is variegated with spots like the leopard's; it is un- 

 commonly ferocious. I have seen a tame one play with a 

 rabbit for some time, and afterwards kill and eat it. On at 

 tempting to take away his prey, he would immediately fly at 

 the person. 



*rhe lynx is about the size of a large hound, and similar in 

 shape to the tiger cat ; its head is formed, and the coat striped 

 like that of the tiger; it has long whiskers at the mouth, and 

 its claws are very much curved. The lynx is a very ferocious 

 animal, but never attacks man. 



The tatta or armadillo, is nearly three feet in length from 

 the end of the snout to that of the tail. The length of the 

 head is about four inches, of the body about a foot and a half, 

 and of the tail about a foot. Its body is covered thus: over 

 the shoulders is a hard shell, over the hips is another shell, 

 and between these are nine girdles covered by scales of a tri- 

 angular form, and united by a strong membrane. Thus this 



