. Mammals of other lands;. Mammals. 140 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD. shoulders and back by a crest of long spines, varying from 12 to 15 inches in length. The tail also carries spines ViSCACHAS AND CHINCHILLAS. Photo by A. S. Rudland & Sons PACA, OR SPOTTED CAVY The facas arc among the larger rodents^ found mainly in the northern part of the South American region On the plains of La Plata the com- monest large rodent is the Viscacha. It assembles in societies like the prairie-dogs, but is a much larger animal, from 18 inches to 2 feet long. Viscachas always set a sentinel to give warni
. Mammals of other lands;. Mammals. 140 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD. shoulders and back by a crest of long spines, varying from 12 to 15 inches in length. The tail also carries spines ViSCACHAS AND CHINCHILLAS. Photo by A. S. Rudland & Sons PACA, OR SPOTTED CAVY The facas arc among the larger rodents^ found mainly in the northern part of the South American region On the plains of La Plata the com- monest large rodent is the Viscacha. It assembles in societies like the prairie-dogs, but is a much larger animal, from 18 inches to 2 feet long. Viscachas always set a sentinel to give warning of danger. They cut every kind of vegetable near and drag them to their holes ; they also have a habit of picking up and collecting round the burrows any object which strikes them as curious. Articles lost by travelers, even whips or boots, may generally be found there. The viscacha belongs to the chin- chilla family, but differs much from the beautiful creature of the high Andes from which chinchilla fur is taken. The Common Chin- chilla is about 10 inches long, and the Short-tailed Chinchilla rather smaller. The exqui- site fur is well known. Two other chinchillas are more like hares in appearance. All four creatures are found on the Andes. The Agutis and Pacas. South America also produces a family of rodents not unlike small pigs, but nearer to the mouse-deer in general appearance; they are called Agutis. Mainly forest animals, but living also in the plains, they feed on grass, leaves, and plants of all kinds ; they are very swift in their movements, and have much the habits of the small South African bucks. The fur is long, olive- or chestnut-coloured, and thick. The Pacas are allied to the agutis, but are stouter; they live either in burrows made by themselves, or in holes in the banks of rivers, or in old tree-roots. The pacas are spotted and rather ornamentally marked; they are found from Ecuador to Brazil and Paraguay. The Cavies. The Dinomys, a spotted rodent known
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Keywords: ., bookauthorco, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectmammals
