THE GUINEA PIG. 



moft other creatures, fhould be able to protect itfelf, in its wild ftate, from 

 the attacks of beafts and birds of prey; and that the fpecies does not become 

 extinct ; which mull, in many inftances, be the cafe, did not Providence take 

 care to maintain and continue every created fpecies. 



Though the Guinea Pig is a native of the warmer climates, it has been 

 fo long domefticated in Britain, and fo widely diffufed elfe where, that it is 

 now fo univerfally known, as to render a very particular defcription of 

 it unneceflary; we fhall, therefore, only obferve, that it is not fo large as 

 the Rabbit; its upper lip is partially divided; its ears large and round; its 

 legs very fhort; it has four toes on the fore feet, and but three on the 

 hinder ones; and it has no tail. Thefe little animals vary much in colour; 

 fome are black, fome white, and fome barred with large blotches of black, 

 white, and orange colour. They appear to be totally void of attachment 

 even to their own young, which they will fuffer to be taken from 

 them, and even devoured, as foon as they are born, without difcovering 

 the leaft concern or relu&ance, or attempting to make the fmalletl 

 refinance. 



The Guinea Pig moves like the Rabbit, though much flower; when it 

 walks, it lengthens its body, and its feet are then moft conrpicuous; and, 

 when at reft, it contracts itfelf into a heap. When kept in a room, it 

 feldom crofles the floor, but creeps round by the wall. It ftrokes its head 

 with its fore feet, like the Rabbit, and fits on its hind legs like that animal. 

 The male ufually obliges the female to go before him, and follows exactly 

 in her footfteps. It is fond of dark and intricate retreats, where it fleeps 

 with its companion, and feldom ventures out when danger is nigh. When 

 about to quit its retreat, it fprings forward to its entrance, where it flops to 

 Men and look round, and if no danger is near, it fallies forth in fearch of 

 food : but, on the leafl alarm, it inftantly runs back to its hiding place. 

 Their manner of fighting is equally lingular and ridiculous: one of them 

 feizes the neck of its antagonift with its teeth, and attempts to tear the hair 

 from it; mean time the other turns its pofteriors to its enemy, kicks up 

 behind, like a Horfe, and, by way of retaliation, fcratches the fides of its 



