GUINEA PIG. 
13 
elegance themselves* the place where they are kept 
must be regularly cleaned* and a new bed of hay 
provided for them at least every week. Being 
natives of a warm climate* they are naturally 
chilly in ours ; cleanliness* therefore* assists warmth* 
and expels moisture. They may be thus reared, 
without the aid of any artificial heat ; but* in 
general* there is no keeping them from the fire in 
winter* if they be once permitted to approach it. 
When they go to sleep* they lie flat on their 
bellies* pretty much in their usual posture ; ex- 
cept that they love to have their fore feet higher 
than their hinder. For this purpose they turn 
themselves several times round before they lie 
down to find the most convenient situation. They 
sleep like the hare* with their eyes half open ; 
and continue extremely watchful* if they sus- 
pect danger. The male and female are never 
seen both asleep at the same time ; but while he 
enjoys his repose* she remains upon the watch, 
silently continuing to guard him* and her head 
turned towards the place where he lies. When 
she supposes that he has had his turn* she then 
awakes him with a kind of murmuring noise, 
goes to him* forces him from his bed* and lies 
down in his place. He then performs the same 
good turn for her ; and continues watchful till she 
also has done sleeping. 
These animals are exceedingly salacious* and. 
generally are capable of coupling at six weeks old. 
The female never goes with young above five 
weeks ; and usually brings forth from three to 
five at a time ; and this not without pain. But 
what is very extraordinary* the female admits the 
male the very day she has brought forth* and be- 
comes again pregnant ; so that their multiplica- 
tion is astonishing. She suckles her young but 
about twelve or fifteen days ; and during that time 
