THE CAVIES 1353 



and favorite haunts are marshy spots covered with aquatic plants. In the latter 

 situations it lives among the shelter of the vegetation, but in sandy districts it ex- 

 cavates burrows. It usually comes forth to feed in the evening and morning; but 

 in cloudy weather may sometimes be seen abroad at all hours. In Paraguay Dr. 

 Rengger states that it is invariably found in moist situations on the borders of the 

 forest, where it lives in societies comprising from six to fifteen individuals, among 

 the dense masses of bromelia. Here it makes regular beaten paths, and never wan- 

 ders far afield. It breeds but once a year, producing only one or two young. Cut- 

 ler's cavy (C. cutleri}, from Peru, is a rather smaller species, distinguished by the 

 general black hue of the fur, although the flanks and more especially the under 

 parts tend to brown. 



Much discussion has arisen as to the origin of the domestic guinea 

 ica ig p.g. j t wag j QC g considered to have been derived from the restless 

 cavy; although several \vriters pointed out that from its aversion to wet and cold 

 such an origin was improbable. From the researches of Dr. Nehring of Berlin, 

 it appears, however, that the real ancestor of the domestic breed is the above- 

 mentioned Cutler's cavy. It has been ascertained that the latter species was domes- 

 ticated by the Incas of Peru, from whence it was carried to Colombia and Ecuador; 

 while, on the other hand, no cavy was ever domesticated in Brazil. The domesti- 

 cated cavies of the Incas were either uniformly white or reddish brown, or a 

 mixture of those two colors. In Europe guinea pigs are generally either white or 

 white marked with yellow and black. Occasionally, however, they may be white 

 marked with pale yellow, and in such cases they invariably have pink eyes. Some- 

 times, again, they may be marked with brownish black, mouse color, or yellowish 

 gray; while in certain cases the black may be replaced by ashy gray, when the eyes 

 are pink. Of late years a breed has been formed with exceedingly long, coarse 

 hair, and of larger size than ordinary. Guinea pigs were introduced into Europe 

 by the Dutch during the sixteenth century, shortly after the discovery of America; 

 the name being probably a corruption of Guiana pig. From their pretty appearance 

 and ways, as well as the ease with which they are kept and the rapidity with which 

 they multiply, guinea pigs have always been favorite pets with children; although 

 it must be confessed that from their stupidity and want of affection they cannot be 

 regarded as very interesting creatures. When, however, a number of these Ro- 

 dents are kept together, they certainly form a pretty sight; and the manner in 

 \vhich they follow one another round and round their place of confinement in un- 

 broken order is very remarkable. In some respects they resemble rabbits in their 

 habits, while in others they are more like mice. Their pace is by no means swift 

 and consists partly of a series of short springs; while the peculiar manner in which 

 the body is elongated when creeping is familiar to all. Their food consists of roots, 

 corn, and various vegetables, and it is essential to the well-being of these animals 

 that the place where they are kept should be dry and warm. If supplied with 

 abundance of fresh vegetables, guinea pigs do not require water, and when they do 

 drink they take but little, and this with a lapping action. When pleased, guinea 

 pigs utter a soft murmuring cry; when alarmed, this changes to a squeak; while a 

 series of short grunts (from which they probably derive their name) appear to be 



