348 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



might be eafily naturalized in this country, and added to 

 our {lock of ufeful animals. It is not much afraid of 

 cold ; and being accuftomed to burrow, it would by that 

 means defend itfelf againll the rigours of our winter. 



There are feveral varieties of them ; fome of which 

 weigh from fourteen to twenty, and even thirty pounds. 



The CAPIBARA 



is a native of South-America, and lives on the banks of 

 great rivers, fuch as the Oronoque, Amazons, and Rio 

 de la Plata; fwims and dives remarkably well, and is ve- 

 ry dexterous in catching fifh, upon which it chiefly fub- 

 fifts : It likewife eats grain, fruits, and fugar- canes 3 

 feeds moftly in the night, and commits great ravages in 



the gardens. They generally keep in large herds, and 



make a noife not much unlike the braying of an Afs. 



Its flelh is fat and tender j but, like that of the Otter, 

 has an oily and fifhy tafte. 



It is about the fize of a fmall Hog; and, by fome na- 

 turalifts, has been claffed with that animal. 



Its fore hoofs are divided into four, the hind ones into 

 three ; its head is large and thick, and on the nofe there 



