Creature in an eighteenth-century novel
I am new to this community, but having read the sidebar I believe this question is okay. If not, please accept my apologies.
In an anonymous 18th-century English novel based at least partly on real travel narratives to the Americas, the narrator provides a detailed account of an animal that, while sounding like a standard naturalists' account of an "exotic" animal, does not accord with any animal that I am familiar with. It is possible that she (the narrator is a woman) may be describing a cryptid or a creature known only within obscure travel narratives of the period. The animal is described as being the size of a "large dog", with very long legs, having uncommonly large eyes that projected from its head. It walked slowly and frequently bared its teeth. Here's the weird part. Apparently it has very long hair that was covered with some sort of sticky substance that drew mice to it. Once they started nibbling on the tufts of fur, the creature would shake its body vigorously so as to more firmly attach them to its body. It would then eat those mice.
Does this sound like any creature anyone here has ever heard of or heard tell of? I am very inclined to believe this is just all entirely made up, but if it rings any bells from anyone, I would be most eager to hear your thoughts. Thank you in advance for any and all help!