HARE KIND. 167 



The APEREA is also called by some the Brasilian 

 rabbit, being an animal that seems to partake of 

 the nature of a rabbit and a rat. The ears are 

 like those of a rat, being short and round ; but 

 the other parts are like those of a rabbit, except 

 that it has but three toes on the hinder legs, like 

 the agouti. 



To these imperfect sketches of animals little 

 known, others less known might be added ; for 

 as nature becomes more diminutive, her opera- 

 tions 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 ani- 

 mals with which it can be so well compared, I 

 will take leave to follow his example. 



THE GUIXEA-PIG. 



THE Guinea-Pig is a native of the warmer 

 climates ; but has been so long rendered domestic, 

 and so widely diffused, that it is 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 considered 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 scarcely seen, 

 except when it moves ; and the neck also is so 

 short, that the head seems stuck upon the 



