THIS little creature, the length of whose head and body is generally between ten and eleven inches, is more properly called, the Restless Cavy: indeed, it does not appear that it is mentioned by any naturalist as being a native of Guinea. The country from which it originally came, is the southern part of South America. It is now very common as a domesticated British quadruped. Its pretty red and black marks, on the

pure white fur with which it is covered, added to its quiet and inoffensive habits, seem to make it attractive, especially to children. Its qualities, however, when we examine them, are not valuable. Scarcely ever at rest, it has no intelligence, and cannot be taught; while its tameness is the effect of stupidity rather than good temper. Its flesh is never eaten in this country, and its fur is so harsh as to be unfit for use.

Some persons keep Guinea-Pigs for the purpose of getting rid of rats, which they suppose, though without sufficient proofs, to have a particular dislike to the animal before us, and to quit in disgust the cellar, or stable, in which it is kept.

In the wilds of South America, Guinea-Pigs are taken in considerable numbers by the natives, for the flesh, which they think excellent; and the animal has neither speed nor sagacity to escape the attacks of beasts or birds of prey.

In the gardens of the Zoological Society, Regent's Park, London, a portion of ground is fenced off, called The Guinea Pig Enclosure, in which there are large numbers of these animals.

THIS well-known animal is found throughout Europe. It has no weapons of defence; but it is exceedingly timid, and has a quickness of sight and hearing, as well as a swiftness of foot, which are calculated to protect it from its enemies. Its chief enemy is man, who is tempted by these very qualities to obtain a poor triumph over the harmless creature, by destroying it for the purposes of sport. "Whatever excuses may be found for the pursuit of the Fox, on the score of necessity, as ridding the country of a noxious animal-an excuse, however, which can scarcely be made by those who forbid its destruction by any other means no such

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excuse can be made for this sport; whilst the degree of danger and difficulty is scarcely sufficient to invest it with enough of excitement to conceal its character of cowardice and cruelty. It is true that coursing is in a degree less cruel, as the poor trembler's agony is comparatively short-lived; but it appears to me that mercy and humanity can scarcely consist with the ardent love of either variety of a sport, the whole interest of which depends on the intense exertion to which a helpless and defenceless creature can be driven by the agonies of fear and desperation."

The Hare feeds on vegetables only, and sometimes does great injury in fields, gardens, and young plantations. Having made its form, or bed, it remains on it during the day, leaving it at night to seek its food, and constantly returning, unless caught or killed; hence, it is said, proverbially, that the wounded Hare goes home to die. Its colour helps to conceal it amidst the brown dusky vegetation of heaths and woods; and by the same admirable wisdom of the Creator, those species of the hare which inhabit the snowy regions of the North become wholly white in winter.

It is not difficult to tame hares; and in a domestic state they are very amusing. The poet Cowper gives an interesting account of three tame hares, which he called, Puss, Tiny, and Bess, and which he kept long under his care. The Hare was reckoned an unclean animal among the Jews.†

* Bell's British Quadrupeds.

+ Deut. xiv. 7.

THIS animal, though like the Hare in some respects, differs from it in size, and in its habits and manner of living. It finds a shelter in deep holes of its own digging. These are called burrows, which it inhabits during the day, and quits about twilight to feed. A large piece of uneven ground, called a rabbit-warren, may sometimes be seen, everywhere pierced with burrows, containing innumerable families of rabbits. When these creatures confine themselves to sandy tracts, and uncultivated portions of land, they may be safely allowed to increase in numbers; but they are great enemies of the farmer and the gardener, when