62 PET RABBITS,' CAVIES, AND MICE. 



and also have larger hutches for runs for the young of 

 either sex. There is no need to go to great expense 

 in the provision of hutches. Cube's sugar boxes are 

 amply large enough for three cavies, and make splendid 

 breeding hutches for single cavies also. We should 

 proceed to make the fronts on the same plan as rabbit 

 hutches, leaving ample door space, and as much open 

 front as is reasonable. Half inch rnesh netting is the 

 best and the safest for the open part of the front, as it 

 prevens the smallest cavy from escaping, and a cat 

 cannot maraud from the outside. Of course, if you have 

 a large shed or building to use, and space in abundance, 

 you can vary the size of your hutches for the purposes 

 to which they are to be put. Always give plenty of 

 hutch room if possible, and plenty of fresh air. At 

 night time it is best, in winter, to shelter the stock from 

 snowstorms, and sleet blasts, and this can be done either 

 by a canvas front let down by rollers, or by a sliding 

 shutter along the front of the shelter. We shall now 

 touch upon the subject of bedding, as that forms part of 

 the system called " Housing." The very best possible 

 bottom bedding for any animals of this kind is pitch 

 pine sawdust, with straw on top. Some prefer peat 

 moss and straw; others sawdust and hay. Always buy 

 your straw, and also your hay. We are no believers in 

 that which is begged from tradesmen as a make-weight 

 for custom extended. Especially would we warn intend- 

 ing cavy keepers against the use of " packing " from 

 tradesmen. It is dangerous from many points of view, 

 often it is of the worst quality, or badly harvested, very 

 frequently cat or mice contaminated, mildewed, or 

 musty. Whatever you give to your cavies in the form 

 of straw or hay bedding, don't give begged stuff. Buy 

 the best, it is the cheapest. One w r ell-known breeder 

 gives us a piece of evidence on this question of bedding 

 which is entirely at variance, in its results, with our 

 experience with rabbits, but we have such a high regard 

 for his practical knowledge, that we gladly bow to his 

 opinion, so far as cavies go. He says: " Keep them 

 warm. The warmer you keep a short-coated cavy the 

 shorter his coat will be, which is very necessary for 

 exhibition purposes." The straw should be short, but 

 perfectly clean and pure, and the hay fragrant and well 

 gotten . 



