I think Tolkein just wanted to use an animal ofence there, but representing a whole new animal would have taken too much, so he just used one we know, meaning some close MEanimal.
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"Hobbits! Well, what next? I have heard of strange doings in this land, but I have seldom heard of a hobbit sleeping out of doors under a tree. Three of them! There's something mighty queer behind this."
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