Gl'INEA-PIG. -PELTRY. 83 



Tribes of Cubiais and Pacas. 



65. The Rodentia that constitute these two tribes belong to 

 America, and generally resemble each other in form ; many of 

 them however, are higher on their legs than most animals of the 

 same order. 



66. The Guinea- Pig, Mua Porcellns of Linnaeus belongs to 

 the tribe of Cabiais. This small animal, which is originally from 

 South America, where it is still found in its wild state, is exten- 

 sively multiplied throughout Kurope, where, in some houses, it is 

 kept, under the impression that its odour drives away rats. 



General Remarks on Peltries. 



67. Almost all the peltries or furs in use, are derived from ani- 

 mals of the two orders the description of which we have just con- 

 cluded, namely : the Carnaria and Rodentia. 



68. The furs most esteemed are those in which the long, silky, 

 thick hairs cover a considerable quantity of down. They all 

 come from cold countries; the only peltries from warm regions 

 are those with smooth hair. Climate has very great influence 

 upon the fur of animals; when nature has designed them to live 

 in cold countries, they have a thick warm fur, while in hot climates 

 they only possess short dry hairs not very closely set, and there 

 is no soft down growing up between these hairs, as is the case in 

 the first. 



G9. The seasons also exercise an influence on furs. In the 

 summer the ordinary hairs are not so long nor so abundant as in 

 winter; and it is only in this latter season that there exists any 

 large quantity of fur at their base. Sometimes very considerable 

 changes take place in the colour of their hairs at different seasons. 



70 At a certain time of the year the mammiferous animals 

 lose their hair which is replaced by a new growth. This change 

 usually occurs in spring and autumn ; sometimes it occurs with- 

 out the colour of the coat being modified, while at others, the 

 new hair bears no resemblance whatever to the old. Thus it is 

 in the north that the Squirrel, instead of always preserving its 

 reddish colour, assumes in winter a pretty gray. The Isatis, or blue 



65. T.J what part of the wmld do those animal < belong, tliat arc included 

 in ihe tribes of Cabiais anr) Pncas? 

 6(5. What is the Guinea-Pig? 



67. What orders of ar-imals furni-h mo t nolirie ? 



68. Has climate any influence on the fur of animals? 

 |?9. Wh;,t effect have the seasons on furs ? 



70. Are mamrnifeious ani.i als always clo'hcd in the same hair * * 



