CARE OF CAPTIVE ANIMALS — WALKER 345 



Should be a generous inclusion of spruce, fir, and pine twigs. Should have heavy 

 trees and limbs to climb. 



SPINY RATS (Echimyidae). Feed the same as mouselike creatures 

 (Crlcetidae). 



AFRICAN ROCK RATS (Petromyidae). Not known to the author to have been 

 kept in captivity. Try feeding like Cricetidae. 



NUTRIA or COYPU (Myocastoridae). Feed grain, vegetables, green vegeta- 

 tion, hay, including an abundant supply of twigs and limbs so that they may keep 

 their teeth worn down. They need a pool in which to swim and dry land on 

 which to sun themselves ; also a nest box. Now being extensively raised in cap- 

 tivity for their fur. 



HUTIAS or TREE RATS (Capromyidae). Feed grain, vegetables, green mate- 

 rial including twigs and branches so that they may keep their teeth worn down. 

 Should have heavy, rough-barked trees and branches on which to climb. 



AFRICAN POUCHED RATS ( Thryonomyidae ) . Feed similarly to Muridae 

 and Cricetidae. 



BRANICKS RAT (Dinomyidae). Very rare, but can probably be kept in 

 captivity by being fed chopped vegetables, grain, green vegetation. Possibly will 

 eat some dried green material such as alfalfa hay. 



PACAS (Cuniculidae). Feed vegetables, green material (including twigs and 

 limbs), hay, grain, and meat. Supply bones for gnawing. 



AGOUTIS (Dasyproctidae). Feed vegetables, green material, dried vegeta- 

 tion. Supply wood and bones for keeping their teeth worn down. 



VISCACHAS and CHINCHILLAS (Chinchillldae). Feed grains, vegetables, 

 green vegetation. Snipply wood and bones for gnawing. 



SOUTH AMERICAN CHINCHILLA RATS (Abrocomyidae). Try feeding 

 same as Cricetidae. 



GUINEA PIGS and CAVIES (Caviidae). Feed grain, vegetables, greenery, 

 hay, meat. Supply bones for gnawing. 



CAPYBARA (Hydrochoeridae). Feed grain, vegetables, green material, and 

 meat. Supply wood and bones for gnawing. Should have pool of warm water 

 in which to bathe. A tropical animal and should not be subjected to chilling. 

 The largest of living rodents. 



HARES, RABBITS, AND PIKAS (LAGOMORPHA) 



HARES and RABBITS (Leporidae). Feed vegetables, green vegetation, hay, 

 grain, and salt. Certain animals of this group are now extensively raised, 

 while other wild ones are almost ne\er successfully kept in captivity. Scrupu- 

 lous cleanliness, and the keeping of the animals in coarse-mesh wire-bottom cages 

 or in large pens, might facilitate the successful keeping of some of the more 

 delicate kinds. (See bibliography.) 



PIKAS (Ochotonidae). Animals of the higher mountains of the Northern 

 Hemisphere. They have not been much kept in captivity. Try same methods 

 as outlined for rabbits and hares. 



AARD-VARK ( TUBULIDENTATA ) 



AARD-VARK (Orycteropidae). Feed insects (such as mealworms), milk, and 

 eggs. 



INSECnVORES (INSECnVORA) 



Many of the insectivores are very small, nervous creatures that have not been 

 successfully kept in captivity. &ome of them must eat almost continuously or 



