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GUINEA PIG. — Cdcia Ajjcreu. 



The Cavies are well represented by the common Guinea Pig. 



Pew animals have received less appropriate names than the Gninea Pig; for it 

 is not a ])ig, and does not come from Guinea, but from Southern America. It is 

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

 change of locality without betraying any emotion, and seems hardly to be suscep- 

 tible even of fear. Being a very pretty little creature, it is in some favour as a 

 domestic pet ; and as it is remarkably prolific, it very rapidly increases in numbers 

 if it is W'cll defended from cold and preserved from damp, for 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 \\'\i\\ its fore-paws. 



An idea of the extreme fecundity of this animal may be formed by 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 themselves, and the mother is then 

 ready for anotiier brood 



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