96 Q^U ADRUPEDS. 



THE GUINEA-PIG 



AS been fo long rendered donneftic, that it is novy become com- 

 mon in every part of the world; is lefs than a rabbit j its legs 

 ihorcer, rcar<:e feen, except when it moves; and the neck alio is ihort ; 

 ears fhort, thin, and tranfparent; has no tail; in moving its body, 

 lengthens like a rabbit; when at refl:, it gathers up in the fame man- 

 ner; has the rabbit lip, but its noftrils much farther afunder; fume are 

 white, fome are red, others red and white ; has four toes on the feet be-r 

 fore, and but three on thofe behind ; ftrokes its head with the fore-feet 

 like the rabbit; and, like it, fits upon the hind-feet; for which purpofe 

 has a naked callous ikin on the back of the legs and feet. 



Thefe animals are perfc6lly helplefs, fcarce pofTeiTed of courage to de- 

 fend themfelves againft a moufe, but will often fight each other very ob- 

 ftinately ; a-e devoured by cats, without refiftance ; the female fees her 

 young dedroyed without attempting to prote<5l them. Eat bran, parfley, 

 cabbage, and mofl cultivated vegetables. The carrot-top is a peculiar 

 dainty, and fallad. They drink by lapping ; are fond of new milk ; but 

 contented with water. When confined in a room, ftrldom crofs the floor, 

 but generally keep along the wall; the male ufually driving the female 

 before him ; the following treading in the footfteps of the preceding. 

 Seek the darkefl retreats, where they flcep together, and venture out 

 with caution ; ftop at the entrance, liften, look round ; if they lufped 

 danger, run back. In very cold weather, run about to keep them- 

 felves warm. 



If the young ones fall into the dirt, the female takes an averfion tq 

 them ; her employm.ent feems toconfift in fmoothing their ikins, in dif- 

 pofing their hair, and improving its glofs. The male and female take 

 this office by turns; when they have brufhed up each other, they attend 

 to their young, taking care to make their hair lie (mooth, and biting 

 them if refraflory. 



Vv'hen afleep, they lie flat on their bellies ; love to have their fore-feet 

 higher than their hinder ; turn themfelves round feveral times before 

 they lie down ; fleep with their' eyes half open. The male and fem.ale 

 never fieep at one time ; while he enjoys his repofe, fne guards him, her 

 head turned toward the place where he lies. When fhe fuppofes he has 

 |>^d his turn, fhe awakes him with a kind of murmuring noife, goes to 



