122 MAMMALS

with Guiana in the north-east of South America,
where they are found in abundance.

The second sub-order of rodents—those with four
upper incisors—need not detain us long. It comprises
the picas, which have hardly any tails, and the
common hares and rabbits. The picas are found in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE PORCUPINE

the mountains of Northern Asia, in the south-eastern
district of Europe, and on the slopes of the Rockies.
There are about a dozen species of them, the best
known being Lagomys alpinus, which is continually
whistling like a woodpecker. Of the hares and rabbits
we need say nothing, except, perhaps, to recall the fact
that Cowper the poet found hares almost as intelligent