;o PET RABBITS, CAVIES, AND MICE. 



KEEPING CAVIES FOR PROFIT. 



Unlike rabbits, there is no chance of realising profit 

 from cavies as a food supply. If you were to suggest 

 their use as such you would immediately be ruled out, 

 and therefore there is no means of recouping any out- 

 lay in that direction. We have heard it suggested that 

 cavies are very nice when cooked. So we have hedge- 

 hogs. But who thinks of hedge-hogs in connection 

 with the general food supply ; and who dreams of cavies 

 in such a connection, any more than an Englishman 

 dreams of horse-flesh in the place of beef? There is a 

 market, so we have been told, for cavies for the purposes 

 of snake food and the like. But snakes do not " much 

 more abound " in these isles, and the Zoo would provide 

 but a limited demand when set beside the supply. 

 There is a market for surplus stocks, or wastrels, to be 

 sold as pets, but the demand even here is not over strong. 

 So that the outlet for absolute profit-making would seem 

 to be chiefly confined to the " Fancy " itself, and 

 to that portion of it who pay good prices for the honour 

 of possessing and exhibiting winners. Intrinsically, 

 and apart from " Fancy," the best cavy is not worth 

 more than 2s. 6d. We say this in no disrespectful way. 

 We have a very high regard for cavy fanciers, and 

 admire their persistent efforts to improve and perfect 

 the several varieties. But we are called upon to con- 

 sider the question of profit, and are driven to the con- 

 clusion that beyond the realm of mere " Fancy " there is 

 a very very limited, if any, profit to be made out of 

 cavies. Nevertheless, in that realm, many and many 

 a good sale has been effected, and many a breeder has 

 done well by his cavies. 



