4l2 THE CiUINEA PtG. 



forward to the entrance ; stop to listen and look 

 round ; and if the road is clear, they sally forth in 

 search of food ; but on the least alarm they run in- 

 stantly back again. 



In their habits, they are so exceedingly clean, that 

 if the young, by any accident, arc dirtied, the fe- 

 male takes such a dislike to them, as never again to 

 feuffer them to approach her. They may frequently 

 be observed in the act of smoothing and dressing 

 their fur, somevidiat in the manner of a Cat. The 

 principal employments of the m.ale and female, seem 

 to consist in smoothing each other's hair: after this 

 office has been mutually performed, they turn their 

 attention to the young, whose hair they take particu- 

 lar care to keep unruffled and even ; and they bite 

 them, whenever they arc in the least refractor,-. 



They repose flat on tlicir belly; but, like the Dog, 

 turn several times round before they lie down. They 

 sleep with their eyes half-open, and are very 

 watchful. 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, 

 r.nd impatient of cold or moisture. Their usual 

 voice is a kind of grunting, like a young Pig ; but 

 their notes of pain arc shrill and piercing. 



Their manner of fighting is ver}'- singular, and 

 seems extremely ridiculous. One cf tJK^m seizes 

 tlie neck of its antagronist with its teeth, and at- 

 tempts to tear the hair from it. In the mean time^ 

 the otlicr turns his posteriors to his enemy, kicks up 

 behind like a horse, and, by way of retaliation, 

 scratches the sides of his opponent with his hIrAler 



