THE GUINEA PIG. 



opponent with its hinder claws, fo that they are frequently both covered 

 with blood. 



The Guinea Pig repofes flat on its belly, and, like the Dog, turns itfelf 

 round feveral times, before it lies down, to fix on a convenient lituation. It 

 fleeps with its eyes half open, and is extremely wakeful. The male and 

 female never lleep at the fame time, but each by turns keeps watch while 

 the other takes its repofe. 



This animal delights fo much in cleanlinefs, that, if the young ones 

 happen, by accident, to be foiled or dirtied, the female takes fuch a dhlike 

 to them, that me will never after fuffer them to approach her. Indeed, the 

 whole employment of both male and female feems to confift in fmoothing 

 each other's hair, which office, when they have mutually performed, they 

 both turn their attention to their young ones, whofe hair they take particular 

 care to keep fmooth and even, and bite them, if they are refractory. 



The voice of the Guinea Pig greatly refembles the grunting of a fmall 

 Pig, which circumftance probably gave rife to its name; and the notes, 

 which it utters when in pain, are very Ihrill and piercing. 



The female goes with young about five weeks, and ufually produces 

 three or four at a birth, and fometimes as many as twelve, which me fuckles 

 for twelve or fifteen days, and then leaves them to Ihift for themfelves, 

 which, by that time they are well qualified to do. The dam, though only 

 furnifhed with two teats, abundantly fupplies her offspring with milk; at 

 the fame time, fhe appears fo indifferent about them, that Ihe cannot 

 diftinguifh her own progeny from another's. 



The Guinea Pig feeds on vegetables of all kinds, but feems to give the 

 preference to parfley and carrot tops. If its food is green vegetables, it never 

 drinks; but if it is fed on bran, bread, grains, or any dry fubftance, it will 

 drink both water and milk, which it laps with its tongue like a Cat. 



This animal is a native of BraliL 



