AGOUTI. 
those which live near the habitations of men. 
But those which live in the woods and savan- 
nahs, feed on leaves and roots, plants and 
shrubs. The Agouti, like the Squirrel, uses it's 
fore-feet in holding it's food, and carrying it to 
it's mouth. It runs very nimbly, both on 
plain and rising grounds: but, as it's fore- legs 
are much shorter than it's hind-legs, it would 
tumble headlong, if it did not slacken it's 
pace in descending. Both it's eye, and it's ear, 
are fine. It stops and listens to the sound of 
music. The flesh, when the animal is fat and 
well fed, is not very bad; though it be hard, 
and of no very agreeable taste. The Agouti 
is scalded, and made ready, in the same man- 
ner as a Pig. It is hunted with Dogs, When 
forced among the Sugar Canes, it is soon 
taken : because these grounds being generally 
covered a foot thick with straw and leaves, it 
sinks at each leap, in this litter; so that a man 
may overtake it, and dispatch it with a stick. 
It commonly runs very nimbly before the Dogs ; 
and, when it regains it's retreat, it lies squat ? 
and remains obstinately in it's concealment. 
The hunters are obliged to force it out, by fill- 
ing it's hole with smoke. The animal, half- 
suffocated, 
