250 - NATURALIST S CABINET. 



Cleanliness Mode of reposing. 



and if the road be clear, they sally forth in search 

 of food ; but on the slightest alarm they instantly 

 run back again. 



In their habits, they are so exceedingly clean, 

 that if the young, by any accident, are dirtied, 

 the female takes such a dislike to them, as never 

 again to suffer them to approach her. They 

 may frequently be observed in the act of smooth- 

 ing and dressing their fur, somewhat in the man- 

 ner of a cat. The principal employments of the 

 male and female, seem to consist in smoothing 

 each other's hair : after this office has been mu- 

 tually performed, they turn their attention to the 

 young, whose hair they take particular care to 

 keep unruffled and even ; and the least appearance 

 of a refractory spirit is always followed by severe 

 chastisement. 



They repose flat on their belly ; but, like the 

 dog, turn round several times before they lie 

 down. They repose with their eyes half open, 

 and are very wakeful. It is observed, that the 

 male and female seldom sleep at the same time, 

 but seem alternately to watch each other. They 

 are exceedingly delicate, and impatient of cold 

 or moisture. Their usual voice ia a kind of 

 grunting, like that of a young pig; but their 

 notes of pain are acute and piercing. 



Their manner of fighting is very singular, and 

 seems extremely ridiculous. One of them seizes 

 the neck of its antagonist with its teeth, and at- 

 tempts to tear the hair from it. Jn the mean 



