PET ANIMALS. 347 



In their native country they are generally of a pure white, with 

 pink eyes, and it is nothing unusual to have one out of a litter white 

 with pink eyes in this country. The alteration which has taken 

 place in them in this respect is perhaps to be attributed to change of 

 climate, food, &c., an improvement that is to be seen in most animals 

 which have been domesticated by man. 



They possess amazing fecundity to a greater degree, perhaps, 

 than any other four-footed animal. They bring forth six or eight 

 times in the course of a year, and from four to twelve young ones at 

 a litter, beginning at the age of two months. The average number 

 which one female is the means of producing in one year is estimated 

 at six hundred ; thus, in a short time they would increase to such an 

 extent as to set computation at defiance, were there no check to the 

 multiplication of the species. 



Rats are supposed by many people to have a great antipathy to 

 guinea-pigs, carefully avoiding the place where they are confined. 

 Under this impression, which, however, is an erroneous one, they 

 are frequently kept by fanciers in their rabbit- houses and pigeon 

 lofts, as a means of protecting their stock against the depredations 

 of these rapacious vermin. They are allowed to run almost any- 

 where, and to shift for themselves; no attention whatever need 

 be paid to the feeding of them, the mere refuse scattered about the 

 floor being sufficient for their subsistence. 



When, however, they are kept for amusement, their cages are 

 generally made precisely similar to the rabbit's hutch, only of rather 

 smaller dimensions ; their treatment too, in most respects, is much 

 the same as that pursued with regard to those animals. Their ordi- 

 nary food should be oats given twice a day, and not too many at a 

 time ; they are also very fond of bran, which is a cheap diet, and 

 they will fatten upon it, if allowed plenty of exercise, and keep 

 healthy. Green meat should also form a portion of their usual diet, 

 particularly the wild sorts, such as' dandelions, sow-thistle, plantain, 

 &c.; tea- leaves they are remarkably fond of, but these should only 

 be given them now and then by way of a treat ; bread also they are 

 very partial to, dipped in milk or water. 



They are sold by all bird-fanciers ; the prices varying from six- 

 pence to half-a- crown, according to their age, colour, &c.; as before 

 remarked, the dark rich coloured tortoiseshell ones are considered the 

 most valuable. 



THE HEDGEHOG. 



THIS, though a rough and prickly customer to handle, is a clean 

 little animal, and a greit pet with country boys. If you have ever 

 seen one and they are commonly sold at the shops kept by men 

 who call themselves bird-fanciers, or even hawked about the streets 

 of London by countrymen if you have seen one you are aware that, 

 saving the belly, they are covered with sharp spikes, and that when 



H 



