HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. ^ 49 



are long whilkers ; its ears are fmall and rounded, and its 

 eyes large and black ; there are two large cutting-teeth, 

 and eight grinders, in each jaw ; and each of thefe grind- 

 ers forms on its furface what appears to be three teeth, 

 flat at their ends; the legs are fhort; the toes long, and 

 connected at the bottom with a fmall web 5 the end of 

 each toe is guarded by a fmall hoof ; it has no tail ; the 

 hair on the body is {hort, rough, and of a brown colour. 



It is a gentle animal, eafily tamed, and will follow thofe 

 who feed it and treat it kindly. 



As it runs badly, on account of the peculiar conftruc- 

 tion of its feet, its fafety confifts not in flight; Nature 

 has provided it with other means of prefervation : When 

 in danger, it plunges into the water, and dives to a great 

 diftance. 



The AGOUTI, or Long-nosed CAVY, 



is about the fize of a Hare; its nofe is long, upper lip 

 divided, (kin fleek and mining, of a brown colour mixed 

 with red, tail fhort, legs flender and almoft naked ; has 

 four toes on the fore feet, and three on the hind; grunts 

 like a pig ; fits on its hind legs, and feeds itfelf with its 

 paws ; and when fatiated with food, it conceals the re- 



