CHAPTER II. 



THE PRINCIPAL VARIETIES. 

 PERUVIANS. 



Perhaps the most difficult to keep of all the cavy 

 tribe are the Peruvians. They may be called the 

 Angoras of the Cavy Fancy, and just as much as 

 Angora rabbits, they are especially suitable for ladies' 

 pets. The beauty of a Peruvian Cavy's coat is very 

 attractive to a lady, and the fair sex have in times past 

 greatly distinguished themselves in the keeping and 

 exhibiting of Peruvians. Length and quality of coat 

 weigh more heavily than mere colour, and items of 

 transcendent importance are what are called the 

 " sweep " or long flowing hair behind, and the head 

 furnishing, or " front." When in full war paint a 

 Peruvian cavy possesses great length of coat, and can 

 easily hide its head behind the veil of its head furnish- 

 ing. It is said by some that these animals are not 

 shown so large in size as they once were, and this is 

 attributed to the practice of sending young ones to 

 shows, where they are kept for days often without their 

 accustomed food. As opposed to this view, one of the 

 leading judges of the present day holds that the quality 

 of the Peruvian cavies shown now has never been 

 surpassed. A great deal of attention has to be paid 

 to the coats of Peruvian cavies, and it is said of one 

 lady admirer of them, that she would sit for hours at 

 a stretch brushing and grooming the coats of her pets. 

 This may seem an absurd waste of time, but what is 

 worth keeping at all is worth keeping well. Just as is 

 the case with Angora rabbits, if the coats of Peruvian 

 cavies are not kept continually brushed they will become 

 matted and spoilt. Peruvian cavies which are kept for 



