^ CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDEE EODENTI A. 397 
The Common Agotjti, D. acuH, sometimes called the Long-nosed or YeUow-rumped Cavy, 
from its long nose and the prevalent color of its back and shoulders, is the size of a middling 
hare, being one foot eight inches in length, and about eleven or twelve inches high at the croup. 
The head resembles that of the rabbit, the nose is thick and swollen, the face arched, the upper 
lip divided, the ears round and naked, the eyes large, the upper jaw considerably longer than the 
lower, and the tail a naked flesh-colored stump. The hairs of the upper and fore parts of the 
body are aunulated with brown, yellow, and black, which gives the animal a speckled yellow and 
green appearance on the neck, head, back, and sides. 
The Black or Crested Agouti, D. cristata, is considerably smaller than the common agouti, 
being about the size of a rabbit, while that species approaches the dimensions of the hare. Its 
general proportions and form, however, are the same ; but the hairs of the back and sides, instead 
of being annulated with various-colored rings as in that species, are nearly uniform black, while 
the long hairs of the croup are perfectly so ; the belly and legs are equally covered with short 
dark hair. There is not any appearance of crest, and the tail is still shorter than in the common 
agouti. Both this species and the preceding seem to inhabit the same climates — Surinam, Guiana, 
and Brazil; the common agouti, however, appearing to have a rather more extensive range, and 
to be likewise found in the West India islands, and even as far south as Paraguay. 
The AcouoHY, or Olive Agouti, D. o.cuschy — the Mus leporinus of Linnseus — is considerably 
smaller than either of the foregoing species, and is at once distinguished by the greater length of 
its tail, which is upward of two inches in length, not much thicker than a crow's quill, and cov- 
ered with short scattered hairs like those on the tail of a rat. In other respects it is of the same 
form as the other Agoutis : has the same naked round ears, the same large black eyes, and 
the same olive-green color, mixed with yellow and black. The hairs of the croup are not so long 
as in the agoutis, but are perfectly black; and all the under parts of the body, the breast, belly, 
and interior of the arms and thighs, straw-colored with a tinge of red. The hair of the legs and 
i feet is short and black, and that of the body much finer in quality than the hair of the Agoutis. 
I It inhabits some of the West India islands, Guiana, and the northern parts of Brazil. 
The White-toothed Agouti, D. croconata^ is a species founded by Wagler upon a specimen 
brought by Spix from the river Amazonas. It is about the same size as the common agouti, but 
it differs in its incisor teeth being entirely white, in having the tarsi shorter, the nails shorter, and 
the general hue of its fur much richer. The D. prymnolo'plia is a species described by Wagler, 
which inhabits Guiana. It is very beautiful, and is readily distinguished by the broad black band 
which runs along the hinder half of the back, and which is continued to the tail. 
The Sooty Agouti, D. fuliginosa, is cahed D. nigricans by batterer, and D. nigra by Dr. 
