Bryan Williams, age 9, of Osceola, Nebraska, for his question

Which is the largest rodent?

He is the capybara, but to visit him at home we must go way down south of the border, tie find him in Paraguay or Panama or along the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains in South America. He is as big as a pig and he does not look at all like a ratty rodent. In fact, you might mistake him for an overgrown guinea pig. Some people call him the water pig because he feels at home beside streams and lakes. He is a great swimmer both on the water and under the water.

A fully grown capybara weighs 120 pounds, which is more than you do. His chunky body is four feet long and his shoulders stand 21 inches above the ground. He has a big squarish face, smallish eyes and small ears. His rather scrawny fur is dark brown with a yellowish vest on the tummy. The capybara runs fast on his sturdy legs and his toes are webbed for fast swimming. But this largest rodent in the world is a rather shy and timid character.