File:Image from page 399 of "A general history of quadrupeds - the figures engraved on wood" (1800).jpg

English: Identifier: generalhistoryof00bewi

Title: A general history of quadrupeds : the figures engraved on wood Year: 1800 (1800s) Authors: Bewick, Thomas, 1753-1828 Beilby, Ralph, 1744-1817 Subjects: Mammals Publisher: Newcastle upon Tyne, S. Hodgson, R. Beilby, & T. Bewick Contributing Library: University of Pittsburgh Library System Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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Text Appearing Before Image: In a domeftic (late, it is gentle and tradable, fond ofattention, and licks the hand of any one that carefles it.When irritated, it is apt to bite. Its anger is exprefledby chattering its teeth, and is always preceded by a kind of grunting. It feeds on grain, roots, fruits, and al- moft every kind of vegetable. When purfued, it takes to the water, and efcapes bydiving. If attacked by Dogs, it makes a vigorous de-fence. Its flefh is efteemed a great delicacy by the natives ofBrazil. We have been minute in our defcriptipn of this curi-ous little animal, which was drawn from the life; andthink there is good reafon to conclude that the fpeciesmight be eafily naturalifed in this country, and added toour ftock of ufeful animals. It is not much afraid ofcold; and being accuftomed to burrow, it would by thatmeans defend itfelf againft the rigours of our winter. There are feveral varieties of them ; fome of whichweigh from fourteen to twenty, and even thirty pounds. HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 381

Text Appearing After Image: THE CAPIBARA, (Sus HydrocharuSy Lin.—Le Cabiaiy BufF.) Is a native of South-America, and lives on the banks ofgreat rivers, fuch as the Oronoque, Amazons, and Riode la Plata ; fwims and dives remarkably well, and is ve-ry dexterous in catching fifh, upon which it chiefly fub-fifts : It likewife eats grain, fruits, and fugar-canes, feedsmoftly in the night, and commits great ravages in thegardens.—^They generally keep in large herds, and makea noife not much unlike the braying of an Afs. Its flefli is fat and tender; but, like that of the Otter,has an oily and fifliy tafte. It is about the fize of a fmall Hog ; and, by fome na-turalifls, has been clafled with that animal. Its fore hoofs are divided into four, the hind ones into,three; its head is large and thick, and on the nofe thereare long whifkers ; its ears are fmall and rounded, and itseyes large and black; there are two large cutting-teethand eight grinders in each jaw, and each of thefe grind-ers forms on its furface what a

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