6 BOOK OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
room, or carry them in their 
arms. They are gentle and 
tame, but they cannot be taught 
any pleasing tricks ; nor are 
they of any use except to be 
pretty playthings, with their 
white hair neatly marked with 
black and red. In their native 
country, which is South Amer- 
ica, they are no doubt of some 
use ; for God has made nothing 
in vain. They live there in 
the hedges of prickly pears, or 
in the marshes where there are 
plenty of juicy plants. They 
stay in their burrows all day, 
and in the fine evenings come 
out to feed ; and very pretty it 
