THE LONG-NOSED CAVY. 



mixture of red, brown, and black; that which covers the rump is of a 

 bright orange, and the belly is yellow. 



This animal is very numerous in the fouthern parts of America, and has 

 been called by fome the Rabbit or Hare of that continent, from a fuppofed 

 refemblance to one or both of thofe animals: it differs, however, very 

 eiTentially from them in many particulars. 



This little creature equals the Hog in voracity: every thing that is 

 eatable comes alike to its infatiable appetite; and when it has eaten till it 

 can eat no longer, it hides the remainder for a future meal. It feems to 

 delight in gnawing and tearing every thing within its reach. When 

 provoked, it erects the hair on its back, and ftrikes the ground violently 

 with its hinder feet, like the Rabbit. It lives in cavities, which it digs for 

 itfelf in hollow trees. Though its appetite is general, it gives the preference 

 to yams, potatoes, and fruits. It fits on its hind legs to eat, like the Squirrel, 

 and conveys the food to its mouth with its fore paws. Like the Hare or 

 Rabbit, it runs fwiftly on the plain ground or up a hill, but is in danger of 

 falling on a defcent, on account of the length of its hinder feet. Its light 

 and hearing are both excellent, and, if whiffled to, it will flop to Men to 

 the found. The flefh is tolerable food, provided it be fat and well fed; but 

 it is rather tough, and has a peculiar flavour. It is hunted with Dogs, and, 

 if it happens to get into a place covered with fugar-canes, is eafily taken, 

 from the embarralTment it meets with ; but, if it takes to the open plain, it 

 runs freely before the Dogs, till it has gained it hole, from which nothing 

 can force it but filling the hole with fmoke. During this procefs, the poor 

 little creature frequently fends forth plaintive cries, but feldom leaves the 

 hole till the lafl extremity, when it once more bolts out, and depends on its 

 fpeed for fafety. If the Dogs come up with it, and there is no poffibility of 

 making good a retreat, it boldly faces its purfuers, and, Handing on its hind 

 feet, eredls the hair on its back, and defends itfelf very gallantly. It will 

 fometimes bite the legs of thofe who attempt to catch it, and always takes 

 out the piece on which it fixes its teeth (a). When provoked, it makes a 



(a) Raii Syn. 



