360 



ANIMALS OF 



known, others less known might be added ; 

 ibr as nature becomes more diminutive, her 

 operations are less attentively regarded. I 

 shall only, therefore, add one animal more to 

 this class, and that very well known ; I mean 

 the Guinea-pig; which Brisson places among 

 those of the rabbit kind ; and as I do not 

 know any other set of animals with which it 

 can be so well compared, I will take leave 

 to follow his example. 



THE GUINEA-PIG. 



THE Guinea-pig is a native of the warmer 

 climates; but has been so long rendered do- 

 mestic, and so widely diffused, that it has now 

 become common in every part of the world. 

 There are few unacquainted with the figure 

 of this little animal ; in some places it is con- 

 sidered as the principal favourite; and is 

 often found even to displace the lap-dog. It 

 is less than a rabbit, and its legs are shorter; 

 they are scarce seen, except when it moves ; 

 and the neck also is so short, that the head 

 seems stuck upon the shoulders. The ears 

 are short, thin, and transparent; the hair is 

 like that of a sucking-pig, from whence it has 

 taken the name ; and it wants even the ves- 

 tiges of a tail. In other respects, it has some 

 similitude to the rabbit. When it moves, its 

 body lengthens like that animal; and when 

 it is at rest, it gathers np in the same man- 

 ner. Its nose is formed with the rabbit lip, 

 except that its nostrils are much farther asun- 

 der. Like all other animals in a domestic 

 state, its colours are different; some are white, 

 some are red, and others both red and white. 

 It differs from the rabbit in the number of its 

 toes, having four toes on the feet before, and 

 but three on those behind. It strokes its 

 -head with the fore feet, like the rabbit; and, 

 like it, sits upon the hind feet; for which pur- 

 pose there is a naked callous skin on the back 

 part of the legs and feet. 



These animals are, of all others, the most 

 helpless and inoffensive." They are scarce 

 possessed of courage sufficient to defend them- 

 ?elves against the meanest of all quadrupeds, 



This history is partly taken from the Amaenitates 

 Academieir, vol. iv. p. 202. 



a mouse. Their only animosity is exerted 

 against each other; for they will cften fight 

 very obstinately ; and the stronger is often 

 known to destroy the weaker. But against 

 all other aggressors, their only remedy is pa- 

 tience and non-resistance. How, therefore, 

 these animals in a savage state could con- 

 trive to protect themselves, I have not been 

 able to learn; as they want strength, swiftness, 

 and even the natural instinct so common to 

 almost every other creature. 



As to their manner of living among us, they 

 owe their lives entirely to our unceasing pro- 

 tection. They must be constantly attended, 

 shielded from the excessive colds of the win- 

 ter, and secured against all other domestic 

 animals, which are apt to attack them, from 

 every motive, either of appetite, jealousy, or 

 experience of their pusillanimous nature. 

 Such, indeed, is their stupidity, that they suf- 

 fer themselves to be devoured by the cats 

 without resistance; and, differing from all 

 other creatures, the female sees her young 

 destroyed without once attempting to protect 

 them. Their usual food is bran, parsley, or 

 cabbage leaves ; but there is scarce a vege- 

 table cultivated in our gardens that they will 

 not gladly devour. The carrot top is a pe- 

 culiar dainty ; as also salad ; and those who 

 would preserve their healths, would do right 

 to vary their food ; for if they be continued 

 on a kind too succulent or too dry, the effects 

 are quickly perceived upon their constitu- 

 tions. When fed upon recent vegetables, 

 they seldom drink. But it often happens that, 

 conducted by nature, they seek drier food, 

 when the former disagrees with them. They 

 then gnaw clothes, paper, or whatever of this 

 kind they meet with; and on these occasions 

 they are seen to drink like most other ani- 

 mals, which they do by lapping. They are 

 chiefly fond of new milk; but in case of ne- 

 cessity, are content with water. 



They move pretty much in the manner of 

 rabbits, though not near so swiftly; and when 

 confined in a room, seldom cross the floor, 

 but generally keep along the wall. The male 

 usually drives the female on before him, for 

 they never move a-breast together, but con- 

 stantly the one seems to tread in the foot- 

 steps of the preceding. They chiefly seek 

 for the darkest recesses, and the most intri- 



