478 



THE GUINEA PIG. 



its coat presents is a dingy, blackish -gray, with a tinge of yellow. The hairs are rather long, 

 and fall heavily over the body. The incisor teeth are of enormous dimensions, and the molars 

 are very curiously formed, presenting some analogy to those of the elephant. 



It is a water-loving animal, using its webbed feet with great power, and fleeing instinct- 

 ively to the stream when terrified by real or imaginary danger. It not only swims well, but 

 is a good diver ; and when endeavoring to escape from a foe, always tries to evade its pursuer 

 by diving as long as its breath will hold out, and only permitting the top of its head to appear 

 above the surface when it rises for the purpose of respiration. As, however, it can remain 

 under water for a space of eight or ten minutes, it finds no difficulty in escaping from any 

 ordinary foe, if it can only gain the shelter of the welcome stream. The food of this animal 

 is exclusively vegetable, and its curious teeth are needed in order to bruise the herbage on 

 which it feeds into a mass sufficiently pulpy to enable it to pass through the very narrow throat. 



The Capybara is a gregarious crea- 

 ture, being generally found in small herds 

 upon the banks of the streams which they 

 frequent. These animals are subject to 

 considerable persecution at the hand of 

 man and beast, as the flesh is remarkably 

 good, and when properly treated can be 

 preserved like ham or bacon. The jaguar 

 preys largely on the Capybara, which is 

 so large and fat that it affords a plentiful 

 and succulent meal ; and is so easily over- 

 come that the jaguar finds no difficulty in 

 supplying himself with a dinner. There 

 is a kind of nrasky flavor about the flesh 

 of the Capybara which is very attractive 

 to some persons, but is equally repulsive 

 to others. When startled, it utters a 

 peculiar sound, something between a bark 

 and grunt, in which an indefinite noise is 

 produced, and a large amount of breath 

 expended. 



THE Cavies are well represented by 

 the common GUINEA PIG. 



Few animals have received less appro- 

 priate names than the Guinea Pig ; for it 

 is not a pig, but a rodent, and does not come from Guinea, but from Southern America. It is 

 very easily tamed ; for its disposition is so unimpressible and dull that it accommodates itself 

 to change of locality without betraying any emotion, and seems hardly to be susceptible even 

 of fear. Being a very pretty little creature, it is in some favor as a domestic pet ; and as it is 

 remarkably prolific, it very rapidly increases in numbers, if it is well defended from cold and 

 preserved from damp, as without warmth and a dry habitation it soon dies. The food of the 

 Guinea Pig is exclusively of a vegetable nature, and while feeding it generally sits on its 

 hinder feet, and carries the food to its mouth with its fore-paws. 



An idea of the extreme fecundity of this animal may be formed from the fact that it begins 

 to breed at ten months of age, that each brood consists on an average of six or eight, and that 

 in less than three weeks after the birth of the young family they are driven to shift for them- 

 selves, and the mother is then ready for another brood. The young Guinea Pigs are born with 

 their eyes open, and covered with hair, and do not attain their full dimensions until they have 

 reached the age of eight or nine months. 



The color of the Guinea Pig is very variable ; but is generally composed of white, red, and 

 black, in patches of different size and shape in each individual. The bare portions of the skin 



GUINEA FlG.-Cavia aperea. 



