Our collection of Rodents contains the following important and representative species of squirrels:
| North American. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gray Squirrel | Sciurus | carolinensis | New York. |
| Black Squirrel | “ | “ | Ohio. |
| Fox Squirrel | “ | ludovicianus | Kansas. |
| Southern Fox Squirrel | “ | niger | Louisiana. |
| Red Squirrel | “ | hudsonius | New York. |
| Eastern Chipmunk | Tamias | striatus | “ |
| Western Chipmunk | “ | speciosus | California. |
| Parry’s Spermophile | Citellus | parryi | Alaska. |
| Thirteen-Lined Spermophile | Spermophilus | tridecem-lineatus | Iowa. |
| Foreign Species. | |||
| Malabar Hill Squirrel | Sciurus | malabaricus | S. India. |
| Indian Hill Squirrel | “ | bicolor | N. India. |
| Prevost Squirrel | “ | prevosti | Malayana. |
| Golden-Bellied Squirrel | “ | aureogaster | Mexico. |
| Columbia Fire-Backed Squirrel | “ | variabilis | S. America. |
No collection of Rodents is worthy of acceptance by the public without a fair representation of Porcupines. The most wonderful species is the African Porcupine, (Hystrix cristata), which when disturbed erects a threatening array of enormously-long, shining black-and-white quills that are a wonder to behold. The lofty white crest of this animal is one of its most conspicuous features.
The Indian Crestless Hill Porcupine, (H. longicauda), usually present in our collection, is merely a quiet understudy of the former. Strange to say—and also provoking—our old friend of the North Woods, the Canada Porcupine, (Erethizon dorsatus), is much more capricious and difficult to keep for a long period than either of the fine foreign species already mentioned. It is only the men who know all about animals who can tell us why nothing seems to exactly satisfy them, and why they will not breed here, live ten years and be happy. Even the best cage life does not seem to be good enough for them; but we are still experimenting.
In order that visitors to the Park may at all times be able to see a Beaver, (Castor canadensis), and not be thwarted in that desire by the very shy habits of the animals in the Beaver Pond, we have a specimen on exhibition in the Small-Mammal House. This individual came from the Rio Grande, as a small kit, and has been reared in its present quarters. It is kept constantly supplied with food--wood, chiefly of poplar and maple, and clean water in which to bathe.
AFRICAN PORCUPINE.
The Capybara, (Hydrochaerus capybara), is the largest of all gnawing animals, and the most remarkable rodent in our collection. In form and size it suggests a large, gray, coarse-haired pig. It is a water-loving animal, of the American tropics, and lives on the grassy banks of the delta of the Orinoco, and similar places farther south. It is one of the best divers of all land animals, and when attacked on land always plunges into the water and dives for about 100 feet before coming to the surface. It is strictly a vegetable feeder, and its flesh is very palatable food. It takes kindly to captivity, and in disposition it is very affectionate.
The Agouti, (Dasyprocta), is to the jungles of South America as the cotton-tail rabbit is to the forests of the eastern United States; but structurally it is not closely related to the members of the Rabbit Family. It lives wholly on the ground, in dense cover, and is very difficult to shoot. As a rule, it is impossible for dogs to catch it because it runs so swiftly through the dense cover that they cannot keep it in sight. There are a number of species, varying in color from dark brown to golden yellow.
