294 
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 
which it is the interest of science to discountenance and 
as much as possible to prevent. 
The generic characters of the Agoutis, as regards the 
teeth, are not very essentially different from those of 
the Pacas. The distinctions in fact depend chiefly on 
such minute points in the disposition of the lines of 
enamel as v^^ould be totally unintelligible vrithout the 
aid of figures or specimens. In number, character, and 
general outline of form they are scarcely to be distin- 
guished. On their fore feet the Agoutis have only four 
apparent toes, armed w^ith strong claw^s, the two middle 
ones projecting forwards beyond the others, with an 
internal tubercle occupying the place of the thumb, but 
scarcely prominent beyond the surface. The number 
of toes on the hind feet is reduced to three, which are 
slightly connected by a membranous expansion at the 
base, and are furnished with still larger and more hoof- 
like claws than those of the anterior extremities. The 
head is more elongated, the forehead is flatter, and the 
face has much less breadth than in the Pacas. These 
animals are indeed altogether of a much lighter and 
more graceful make ; their legs are thin and slender ; 
their tails extremely short ; their eyes large and rather 
prominent ; their ears middle-sized and rounded ; and 
their whole body covered with long, close-set, somewhat 
rigid hairs. Like the Pacas, they are all natives of 
America, and appear to be confined to the southern 
division of that continent. 
The species which at present engages our attention, 
the Long-nose Cavy of Pennant and Agouti of Buffbn, 
is about the size of the common rabbit, with which it 
has also some resemblance in form and habits. Its 
general colour is of a grizzled reddish brown, tinged 
with yellow on the neck, chest, and under parts, and 
