3-2i HISTORY OF ANIMALS. 



These; though so formidable to each other, yet are the most 

 timorous creatures upon earth, with respect to the rest of ani- 

 mated nature : a falling leaf disturbs them, and every anima! 

 overcomes them. From hence they are difficultly tamed ; and 

 u ill suffer none to approach them, except the person by whom 

 they are fed. Their manner of eating is something like that of 

 the rabbit •, and, like it, they appear also to chew the cud. Al- 

 though they seldom drink, they make water every minute. 

 They grunt somewhat like a young pig ; and have a more pierc- 

 ing note to express pain. In a word, they do no injury ; but 

 then, except the pleasure they afford the spectator, they are of 

 very little benefit to mankind. Some, indeed, dress and eat 

 them ; but their flesh is indifferent food, and by no means a 

 reward for the trouble of rearing them. This, perhaps, might 

 be improved, by keeping them in a proper warren, and not suf- 

 fering them to become domestic : however, the advantages that 

 would result from this would be few, and the trouble great ; 

 so that it is likely they \%'ill continue a useless, inoffensive 

 dependent, rather propagated to satisfy caprice than to supply 

 necessity. 



