PET RABBITS, CAVl'ES, AND MICE. 63 



FEEDING. 



Second in importance to housing (is it really so, or 

 are both equal ?) is feeding. To venture to enumerate 

 the many views, good, bad, and indifferent, upon the 

 question of foods desirable for feeding pet stock, would 

 fill more pages in our book than we can possibly devote 

 to Cavydom. It is quite true that " what is one man's 

 meat is another man's poison," and many men are of 

 different minds. But there can be very little difference 

 of opinion upon the necessity to give stock the soundest, 

 cleanest, ripest, and most wholesome food. Quality 

 admits of no objection. Mr. W. W. Ward, of London, 

 a long-time and successful breeder of Cavies, says: 

 " Feed on good sound oats, clover, or meadow hay, 

 and plenty of green food. Cavies are not very particu- 

 lar what kind of green food or roots they get, so long as 

 they do get them. And do not forget to give them a 

 good drink of clean, cold water at least once a day, as 

 this keeps their kidneys in good order. Milk, egg and 

 milk, good broad bran, plenty of clover hay, and an 

 occasional stiff meal of bran, Indian meal and 

 middlings will soon fit them for the show pen. If these 

 remarks on feeding are acted up to you will always have 

 your stock in good order, and illness and disease will be 

 practically nil." Before making any further remarks 

 upon food, we may well allude to the vessels in which 

 food is given. Some dispense with vessels altogether, 

 and their position is not an illogical one, if they see to 

 it that the hutch floors are scrupulously clean. This 

 can always be relied upon if the sawdust^ bedding is 

 kept clean, plentiful and fresh. Otherwise the practice 

 is inadvisable and risky. Hutches can always be kept 

 pure and sweet, floor and all, if they are lime-washed 

 or white-washed (use plenty of size) frequently. To 

 feed on the hutch floors gives the cavies a bit of exer- 

 cise to find the oats. But if the cavy keeper desires 

 system, uniformity, and appearance, then he will get 

 some proper food pans. These can be had in terra 

 cotta or white ware, and to any size in reason from the 

 makers who advertise in Cage Birds, The Poultry 

 World, and other live stock journals. If you 

 feel that your means will not allow of the 

 purchase of these food pans, you can use the 



