40 



The Canada Porcupine {Eretkison dorsatus) is the 

 American representative of the family. The most familiar 

 form however is the African. (See the picture in " Group 

 of Rodents.") The former is erroneously called hedgehog, 

 the name of a European animal. Several singular creatures, 

 native in South America, belong to this family. One 

 having a strongly prehensile tail. Twelve species of porcu- 

 pines comprise the group. All American, excepting the 

 one large African form. 



GROUP 3!).— The Chinchillas, Family Chinchillidcc. 

 Represented by the little creature that furnishes the deli- 

 cate " Maltese "-like fur of commerce, the CHINCHILLA of 

 South America. Several rabbit-like animals belong to 

 this group, as the Lagidium and Lagos tomus. 



GROUP -10. — Family Dasyproctidie. Several species 

 of squirrel-like animals with long hind legs, are members 

 of this family. The AGOUTI {Dasyprocta agouti) is the 

 most familiar form, native in South America. 



GROUP 41. — Family Dinomyida. Having one genus, 

 Dinomys. 



GROUP 4*2.— The Cavils, Family Cavidce. The GUIN- 

 EA PIGS are the familiar representatives. Most errone- 

 eously called so, as they are not swine, nor are they from 



Capybara. — The Largest Rodent. 

 From D. Appleton k Co.'s " Elements of Zoology, Science Series." 



