PORCUPINES. 
33 
(3) The Bamboo-Rats and Rodent Moles of Asia and Africa 
[Spalacidce) , with short tails^ thick heavy bodies, and powerful 
digging claws. (4) The Gophers and Pouched Mice [Geomyidce), 
somewhat similar to the last, but provided with pouches in 
their cheeks, outside their mouths, often large enough to hold 
a walnut. (5) The Dipodidce (Case 30), consisting of the long- 
legged and long-tailed Jerboas of North Africa and Asia, specially 
modified for leaping lightly over a yielding sandy soil. The 
Jumping Hare of the Cape Colony [Pedetes capensis) is also a 
member of this family. 
The Hijstricomorpha, or Porcupine section, contains the fol- 
lowing: — (1) The Octodontid(2 (Case 31), with 17 or 18 genera, [Case SI.] 
nearly all confined to South America, of which the best known is 
the aquatic Coypu (yMijojootamus coijpu), v/hose habits are similar 
to those of the ATater-Vole, and whose fur is thick and soft, and of 
considerable value. (2) The Porcupines [HijstricidcE) (Cases 29 and [Cases 
30, above), found both in the Old and New Worlds, are all covered ^ 
with stout variegated spines, although in some of the species these 
are hidden in the long thick hair. The Porcupine of Southern 
Europe [Hystrix cristata) is now becoming very rare, but several 
species closely allied to it are still very common in India and the 
Malay Archipelago. They feed on fruit, bark, and roots, and live 
in burrows of their own construction, with the exception of the 
South- American Tree-Porcupines, which are wholly arboreal, and 
have long prehensile tails. (3) The Chinchillas {Chinchillidce) , 
celebrated for their beautiful soft fur. (4) The Agoutis and their 
allies [Dasyproctida] ) and (5) the Cavies (CavUdcB) (Case 32), [Case 32 .ig 
to which belong the little animals known to us as Guinea-pigs, 
and the great Capybara [Hydrochcerus capyhara), by far the largest 
of the Order. Its habits are somewhat similar to those of the 
Hippopotamus, it being thoroughly aquatic, and feeding on water- 
weeds, grass, and other vegetable substances. The last three 
families are all entirely restricted to South America. 
The second suborder of Rodents, distinguished by possessing [Cases 
two pairs of incisors in the upper jaw, consists only of the Hares 31 & 32.] 
and Rabbits {Lepus) and the Pikas [Lagomys), animals far less 
specialized for gnawing than the other Rodents, and showing, in 
some respects, the links by which the Rodents are related to other 
D 
