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THE FLYING OPOSSUM.

THIS animal is found in New South Wales: its head is like a squirrel's, with ears large and erect, but the fur is more delicate, and of a beautiful dark glossy colour, mixed with gray, the under parts white; on each hip is a tan coloured spot. The sailing membrane resembles the flying squirrel's, but is broader in proportion; on the fore legs it has five toes, with a claw on each; on the hind ones, four toes, and a long thumb, which enables the animal to use it as a hand; it is remarkable, that the three out claws of the hind feet are not separated like the others.

THE WOMBACH.

THIS animal is a native of New South Wales, and was discovered in the year 1798. It is about the size of a badger, a species of which it was supposed to be, from its dexterity in burrowing in the earth, by means of its fore paws; but in its general motions, it appeared to have much of the habits and manners of a bear. It has a large head; a broad forehead: a face tapering to the nose, which is a hard gristly substance, well adapted for removing the earth when it burrows; each jaw has two cutting teeth, long and sharp like those of a kanguroo, with a space of an inch between them and the grinders, which are strong and well set. From the structure of its teeth, it does not appear to be a carnivorous animal: its eyes are small and black; its ears short and pointed. The paws are something like a beaver's, with which it runs so awkwardly that a man could easily overtake it. Its posteriors differ from most other animals, by falling down in a sloping direction, commencing at the hip joint, and descend

ing to the knee joint of the hind legs: its tail is so short, that it is scarcely perceivable. The general colour is of a cream-brown intermixed with black hairs. The female, like most other animals of New South Wales, is distinguished by a pouch or false belly for the security of its young. The flesh is considered by the natives as a great luxury.

THE HARE.

Of this tribe there are several species, all of which are herbivorous, and all exceedingly timid. Their fear is indeed justified by the continual persecution which they experience. Among its enemies, the Hare numbers dogs, cats, all the weasel race, birds of prey, and last, and worst, mankind; so that, although its natural term of life does not usually exceed eight years, it seldom lives out that scanty period. To baffle, in some degree, the hostility of its foes, nature has endowed it with great fleetness, and a good share of sagacity. It uses a variety of arts to evade the dogs, and, when pursued, has even been known to push another Hare from its seat, and lie down there itself. Its muscles are formed for swiftness; it has large prominent eyes, placed backward in its head, so that it can almost see behind it as it runs; and its ears,

which are still more remarkable for their size, are tubular, and capable of being directed to every quarter; so that the smallest sounds are readily received, and the animal's steps are directed accordingly. The muscles of the body are very strong, and without fat; so that it carries no superfluous burthen of flesh; and the length of the hind feet adds to the rapidity of its motions, especially in ascending high grounds. Instinct teaches it to choose its form in a place where the surrounding objects are nearly of the colour of its own body.

The females produce four times a year, go with young thirty days, and generally bring forth three or four at a time, which are suckled for about three weeks, and then left to shift for themselves. They however seldom separate far from each other, or from the spot where they were produced, but make each a form at some little distance. They generally feed during the night, choosing the most tender blades of grass, and quenching their thirst with the dew. They live also upon roots, leaves, fruit, and corn; are particularly fond of birch, pinks, parsley, and such plants as are furnished with a milky juice; and during winter, they strip the bark of trees, there being scarcely any that they will not feed on, except the lime or the alder. When domesticated, they are fed with lettuce, and other garden herbs; but the flesh of such as are thus brought up, is always indifferent. The Hare may be tamed, and is then a frolicksome and amusing animal. Cowper, the poet, has left an interesting account of the manners and habits of three tame Hares, which were in his possession for several years.

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NOTWITHSTANDING the hare and the Rabbit are so similar in appearance and disposition, there exists so strong an enmity between them that they will fight with the bitterest animosity when shut up together. In fecundity the Rabbit far surpasses the hare, as it breeds seven times in the year, and generally produces seven or eight young ones at a time. So that, were this to happen regularly for about four years, the progeny from a single pair would amount to almost a million and a half. Their enemies, however, are so numerous as to prevent any increase injurious to mankind; for besides their affording food to us, they are also devoured by almost all animals of prey. Yet, in the reign of Augustus, they became such a nuisance to the Balearic Islands, that the inhabitants were under the necessity of petitioning the emperor to send a military force to destroy them.

The Rabbit burrows in light soils, where it continues great part of the day, and breeds up its young. Previous to the time of parturition, the female enlarges her apartment, and makes a warm and comfortable bed with a quantity of wool, which she pulls from her own body. During the whole of the first two days, she never leaves her young, except when pressed by hunger; and then she eats with surprising quickness,

and immediately returns. She always conceals them from her mate, lest he should devour them; and therefore, when she goes out, she covers up the hole so carefully, that its place is scarcely perceptible; yet, when they are somewhat grown, and are brought by the mother to the mouth of the hole, to eat such vegetables as she gets for them, the male seems to acknowledge them as his offspring, takes them betwixt his paws, smooths their hair, and caresses them one after another with great tenderness. The maternal attentions continue only one month; as at the expiration of that time, the young are able to provide for themselves. Rabbits give the alarm to each other by thumping on the ground with one of their hind feet, so as to be heard to a considerable distance.

The DOMESTIC RABBIT is of various colours-white, ..brown, black, and variegated. It is somewhat larger than the Wild Rabbit; but its flesh is not so good, being softer and more insipid.-Its food is generally cabbage leaves, colewort, blades of corn, sourdock, and other succulent plants: but sweet short hay, with a little clean oats, make the best diet.

The fur of this animal is principally used in the manufacture of hats; being mixed in certain proportions with the fur of the beaver.

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Of the cavy tribe there are seven species, the most common of which is the Restless Cavy, or Guineapig. Though a native of Brazil, it lives and propagates in

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