20 



SPOTTED CAVy. 



Cavia Paca. C. caudata, pedibus penfadacfi/lisj laimbusjlatcsmite- 



Uneatis. Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel.p. 120. 

 Tailed Cavy, with pentadactylous feet, and sides marked by rows 



of yellowish white spots. 

 Mus Paca. M. cauda abbreviata, pedibus pentadactylis, laterihus 



Jiavescenfe-Uneatisc Lin. Syst, Nat. p. Si. 

 Paca. Buff. 10. p. 269. pi. 34. a?id Suppl. 3. p. 203. pi. SS' 

 Spotted Cavy. Pennant Quadr. p. 120. 



This is a large species, measuring near two 

 feet in lengh. It is found in Guiana, Brasil, and 

 other parts of South America ; inhabiting holes 

 formed under ground, and principally near the 

 banks of rivers. It is of a thick, clumsy form, 

 somewhat resembling that of a pig ; for which 

 reason it has been sometimes called the Hog- 

 Rabbet. The head is round ; the muzzle short 

 and black ; the upper jaw longer than the lower ; 

 the lip divided like that of a hare; the nostrils 

 large; the whiskers long; the eyes large and pro- 

 minent, and of a brown colour ; the ears short, 

 moderately large, round, and naked; the neck 

 thick ; the body very plump, larger behind than 

 before, and covered with coarse, short, thinly- 

 scattered hair of a dusky colour, deepest on the 

 back : the throat, breast, insides of the limbs, 

 and belly, are of a dingy white ; and on each 

 side the body run five rows of roundish, slightly 

 angular spots, situated pretty near each other : 

 the legs are short ; and the feet have five toes, 

 four of which are armed with strong and sharp 



