320 HISTORY OF 



native country, but which travellers have been contented to ca'l 

 rabbits or hares ; of which we have but indistinct notice. The 

 TAPETi, or the BRASiLiAN RABBIT, is in shape like our English 

 ones, but is much less, being said to be not above twice the size 

 of a dormouse. It is reddish on the forehead, and a little whitish 

 under the throat. It is remarkable for having no tail ; but it has 

 long ears, with whiskers, like our rabbits, and black eyes. It 

 does not burrow, like ours ; but lives at large, like the hare. 



The APEREA is called also 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 operations are less attentively regarded. I shall only, there- 

 fore, 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 

 w ith which it can be so well compared, I will take leave to fol- 

 low his example. 



THE GiriNEA PIG. 



The Guinea-pig is a native of the warmer climates ; but has 

 been so long rendered domestic, and so widely diflused, 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 arc scarcely seen, except when it moves ; 

 and the neck also is so short, that the heads 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 vestiges 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 up 

 in the same manner. Its nose is formed with the rabbit lip, 

 except that its nostrils ai-e much farther asunder. Like all 

 other animals in a domestic state, its colours are different ; some 



