THE SAVAGE WORLD 
499 
of running it imitates the rabbit; but in spite of its long limbs it is not par¬ 
ticularly fleet. Once in a while, though not very often, it squats down to rest. 
It is ever on the lookout for enemies, yet bold enough to seek its living by 
daylight. It is easily distinguishable from other cavies by its long and well- 
developed eyelashes. It generally produces twins, whose cradle is the parental 
burrow. When its flesh is cooked, its whiteness makes it look very inviting, 
PATAGONIAN CAVY. 
but experiment diminishes its attractiveness, by proving the flesh dry and almost 
flavorless. A careless observer might mistake this animal for a hare, on 
account of its long legs, long cocked-up hairs and diminutive tail. It is much 
larger than the hare and weighs from twenty to thirty pounds. Its fur is 
pleasant to the touch, brown on the back and fawn-colored upon the sides. It 
is found in such parts of Patagonia as have a desert character, and these 
rodents hopping one after another give life to a rather dreary landscape. 
