are of various colours, and they do not, like wild Rabbits, burrow in the ground.

A gentleman, who bred up tame Rabbits for his amusement, has given the following account of their production:-"I began," says he, " by having but one male and female only; the male was entirely white, and the female brown: but in their posterity, the number of the brown far exceeded those of any other colour. It is surprising how obedient and submissive the descendants were to their common parent. He was easily distinguished from the rest by his superior whiteness and however numerous the other males were, this kept them all in subjection. Whenever they quarrelled among each other, he ran up to them with great dispatch, and upon his appearance all was instantly reduced to peace and order. Another instance of his superiority was, that having accustomed them to come to me with the call of a whistle, the instant this signal was given, I saw him marshalling them up, leading them the foremost, and then suffering them to file off before him."

ELEGANCE of shape, spiritedness, and agility to leap from bough to bough in the forest, are the principal features of this pretty animal, whose spreading tail

helps the creature as the wings support a bird in the air, and seems to unite the quadrupeds to the feathered tribe. The Squirrel is of a deep reddish brown colour; his breast and belly white. He is lively, sagacious, docile, and nimble: he lives upon nuts, and has been seen so tame as to dive into the pocket of his mistress, and search after an almond or a lump of sugar. In the woods he leaps from tree to tree with surprising agility, living a most frolicsome life, surrounded with abundance, and having but few enemies. His time, however, is not entirely devoted to idle enjoyment, for in the luxuriant season of autumn, he gathers provisions for the approaching winter; as if conscious that the forest would then be stripped of its fruits and foliage. His tail is to him as a parasol to defend him from the rays of the sun, as a parachute to secure him from dangerous falls when leaping from tree to tree, and as a sail in crossing the water, a voyage he sometimes performs in Lapland on a bit of ice or a piece of bark inverted in the manner of a boat.

The Palatouche, or Flying Squirrel, is a species of the same genus; his tail is much smaller, but in compensation he has a large membrane proceeding from the fore feet to the hind legs, which answers the same purpose as the Squirrel's tail, and enables him to give surprising leaps that almost resemble flying. In the act of leaping, the loose skin is stretched out by the feet; whereby the surface of the body is augmented, the animal becomes lighter in proportion to its bulk, the acceleration of its fall is retarded, and it appears to sail or fly from one place to another. Where numbers of them are seen at a time leaping, they appear like leaves blown off by the wind. This animal is said to partake of the nature of the Squirrel, the rat, and the dormouse.

Is a harmless inoffensive animal, and seems to bear enmity to no creature but the dog. He is caught in Savoy, and carried about in several countries for the amusement of the mob. When taken young, this creature is easily tamed, and possesses great muscular strength and agility. He will often walk on his hinder legs, and uses his fore paws to feed himself, like the squirrel. The Marmot makes his hole very deep, and in the form of the letter Y, one of the branches serving as an avenue to the innermost apartment, and the other sloping downwards as a kind of sink or drain; in this safe retreat he sleeps throughout the winter, and if discovered may be killed without appearing to undergo any great pain. These animals produce but once a year, and bring forth three or four at a time. When a number of Marmots are feeding together, one of them stands sentinel upon a wall; and on the first appearance of a man, a dog, an eagle, or any dangerous animal, he utters a loud and shrill cry, as a signal for immediate retreat. The Marmot inhabits the highest regions of the Alps; and is likewise found in Poland, Ukraine, and Chinese Tartary.

THE GUINEAPIG, OR CAVI,

Is generally white, with spots of red and black. He is a native of the Brazils, but now domesticated in most parts of Europe. The female is very prolific, breeding nearly every two months, and bringing from four to twelve at a litter. This animal seems to hold a middle place between the mouse and rabbit tribe, but is much slower in its motions than either. It is less than the rabbit, and its legs and neck are so short, that the former are scarcely seen, and the latter seems stuck upon its shoulders. They are so extremely cleanly, that the male and female may be often seen alternately employed in smoothing each other's skins, disposing their hair, and improving its gloss; and if the young ones happen to fall into the dirt, or be, by any other accident, discomposed, the female takes such an aversion to them, that she never permits them to visit her more. They sleep, like the hare, with their eyes half open, and continue extremely watchful if they apprehend any danger. The male and female are never seen to sleep 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 he has had his turn, she awakes him with a kind of murmuring noise, forces him from his bed, and lies down in his place. He

then performs the same kind office for her, and continues watchful till she also has done sleeping. They are very fond of dark retreats; and previously to their quitting these, they look round and seem to listen attentively; then, if the road be clear, they sally forth in quest of food; but run back on the slightest alarm.

Is a lively, active animal, and the most timid in nature, except the hare, and a few other defenceless species. Although timid, he eats in the trap as soon as he is caught; yet he never can be thoroughly tamed, nor does he betray any affection for his assiduous keeper. He is beset by a number of enemies, among which are the cat, the hawk and owl, the snake and weasel, and the rat himself, though not unlike the Mouse in his habits and shape. The Mouse is one of the most fecund animals, and it is supposed that the life of this small inmate of our habitations does not extend much farther than three years. This creature is known all over the world, and breeds wherever it finds food and tranquillity. There are Mice of various colours, but the most common is of a dark, cinereous hue: white Mice are not uncommon, particularly in Savoy and some parts of France.

A remarkable instance of sagacity in a Long-tailed