Cavid^. MAMMALIA. Lepouidas. . 143 
THE RESTLESS CAVY {Cavia aperca) is generally 
considered to be the originator of our domestic variety 
of ca'vy, commonly called the guinea-pig. It is an 
inhabitant of Brazil, and is fomid in Paraguay and 
La Plata. The hairs are brown, with reddish-yellow 
points, the throat and inferior parts being either white, 
greyish, or dirty yellow. In the tame varieties the 
prevailing tint is white, with black and orange-coloured 
spots. Aecording to Dr. Eengger, this species lives 
wild, m little societies, varying numerically from six to 
fifteen individuals. Its principal feeding time is in the 
morning and evening. In respect of its procreative 
powers in the domesticated state, few animals surpass 
it. The female produces from six to twelve young at 
a litter, and' this frequently takes plaee several times 
during the year. In six or eight weeks the young are 
themselves ready to give birth to other offspring. 
THE BOLIVIAN CAVY {Cavia BoUviensis) occupies 
only the higher altitudes of Bolivia. The fur has a 
greyish-yeUow coloim, being whitish imderneath. The 
incisors have an orange yellow tint. This speeies is 
very shy, and, from the statement of Meyen, is believed 
to be extremely abundant on the lofty plains of Tama 
and Tajari. Several other species of cavy are foimd 
in Brazil and different regions of South America. 
THE CAPYBARA {Hydrochcerus Gapybara) mhabits 
the banks of almost every river in Brazil, Guiana, 
and Paraguay, being also foimd more or less abundant 
throughout the whole continent of Soutli America. 
This is the largest species of rodent now existing, 
the body attaining sometimes a length of four feet. 
The superior incisors are grooved longitudinally in 
front. The molars are made up of numerous laminae, 
and they are so disposed in tlie posterior teeth, that 
Cuvier was led to indicate an affinity on the part of 
this animal with the elephant — a view which enjoys 
the sanction of the best comparative anatomists. The 
head of the Capabara is long, thick, and drawn out 
towards the muzzle. The feet are slightly palmated ; 
the digits being armed with broad ungular claws. 
The skin is clothed with long, thin, and scanty hairs ; 
constituting another feature which serves to remind us 
of tlie pachydermatous mammals. There is no trace 
of a tad. According to Marcgrave, as recorded by 
Broderip, this aberrant rodent lives on herbs and fruits. 
It is a nocturnal animal, swimming across rivers and 
torrents in search of food, and raising a horrible noise 
on such occasions. Multitudes of them congregate 
together on the banks of streams, where they are 
attacked and destroyed by hunters before they can 
plunge into the water. Those, however, which suc- 
ceed in getting into the stream are safe ; for though 
slow of foot, they are expert swimmers. Some winters 
aver that they are fond of fish ; but this seems doubtful. 
THE PACA {Coilogenys Paco) is a moderately large 
South American rodent, measuring about two feet in 
length, and like the foregoing presents some affinities 
with the pachyderms. The general colour of the fur is 
dark-brown above and white underneath; the sides 
being prettily marked with four or five longitudinal 
rows of white spots, extending backwards from the 
shoulder to the ramp. The Paca is furnished -with 
buccal pouches ; the upper lip is cleft, and there is a large 
fold of mtegument on the cheeks. The tail is very 
feebly developed. The fore-feet are tetradactylous, 
a rudimentary thumb existing in the form of a clawed 
warty tubercle ; the hind feet are three-toed. Tlie 
Paca frequents low forests in the neighbourhood of 
water. It forms burro.ws which are comparatively 
superficial, and have three openings. Though heavy- 
looking and stout-built, it is tolerably swift on foot. 
Its habits are nocturnal, feeding on fruits and herbage. 
The female produces a single young one at a birth. 
The flesh is excellent eating. 
THE AGOUTI (Dasyprocta Aguti). — The several 
species of the genus which this animal represents are 
characterized by tetradactylous feet in front, and tri- 
dactylous feet behind, and in this particular they 
correspond ivith the paca. This rodent is about tlie 
size of a hare, and, as a kind of game, seems to supply 
the place of our “ puss ” in Brazil, where it is much 
hunted. The general colour of the fur is yellowish- 
brown ; a mottled or speckled appearance being pro- 
duced by the hairs in the region of the neck from 
accimiulations of brown, yellow, and black colour. 
The Agoutis do not construct burrows, but frequent 
tliickets, and when pursued generally seek for holes 
under old frees, or any place calculated to afford a 
semblance of security. When captured they utter a 
plaintive cry, and offer little or no resistance. Their 
claws being blunt and straight, they are miable to 
clamber up the trees. These animals are very prolific 
the female bringing forth several young at a suigle 
birth. Many other species occm- in Brazil and the 
adjoining West Indian islands. 
Family XI.— LEPORID^. 
The Hares are at once distinguished from the other 
families of the rodent type, by the cfrcumstance of their 
possessing four incisor teeth in the upper jaws. Two 
of these are very small, and are placed immediately 
behind the anterior pair, so as to present the appear- 
ance of double teeth, hence the Hares are sometimes 
called the Duplicidentates. The molars are generally 
twenty-two in number, six on either side above, and 
five correspondingly opposed below. They arc desti- 
tute of roots, and are made up of two distinct laminae. 
When the mouth is closed the lower series project 
inwards beyond the margin of the upper ones. This 
arrangement being associated with a certain facility 
of movement of the condyle of the lower jaw at its 
articulation, not found in other Rodents, it must be 
evident tliat the Hares employ a chewing action some- 
what similar to that found m the ruminating mammals. 
The last molar tooth of the superior series is very 
small. The orbital fossae are perforated by a common 
foramen opticum. The bony palate is incomplete ; 
whilst, in the typical forms, the clavicles are also imper- 
fectly developed. The soles of the feet are clothed 
with hair, there being five digits in front, and foui 
posteriorly. The claws are long and narrow. The 
tail is either short or entirely absent. The Hares have 
a very wide geographical distribution in the hemi- 
spheres, being more particularly abundant in North 
America. 
