FAMILY CAVID.E; GUINEA-PIG, CAPYBARA. 266 



naturally restricted to tropical America, where they seem to 

 replace the hares and rabbits of other countries ; but one species, 

 the common Guinea-Pig^ has been so long domesticated in this 

 and other European countries, as now to have become quite 

 naturalised in the Old World. Whence the name was derived, 

 which this species bears, there does not seem now a possibility of 

 ascertaining ; for it seems to have been introduced into Europe 

 at a very early period after the discovery of South America. This 

 animal possesses a very low degree of intelligence ; it lives in 

 societies, inhabiting dry lands covered with low brushwood ; and 

 remains concealed during the day, coming forth on the approach 

 of evening to seek its food. It possesses neither cunning to avoid 

 danger, strength to resist, nor swiftness to escape from it ; and 

 nothing could save the race from extermination, except its extra- 

 ordinary rapidity of multiplication. In this respect this species 

 equals, or perhaps surpasses, any other mammiferous animal. 

 The ordinary litter consists of six or eight, sometimes as many as 

 twelve ; and young are produced several times in the year. These 

 young come into the world in a state which at once renders them 

 nearly independent of their parents : and although they do not 

 attain their full growth until they are eight or nine months old, 

 they themselves begin to breed at the age of six or eight weeks. 

 There is little besides this readiness of multiplication, and a 

 certain degree of prettiness in their external appearance, which 

 can render the keeping of these animals a matter of either 

 pleasure or profit. " Devoid of sense or docility, though inces- 

 santly restless, tame from stupidity, and harmless from impotence, 

 they perhaps possess as few claims upon our interest and affection, 

 as any animal of equally innoxious habits."* 



234. Nearly allied to the Guinea-Pig is the Hydrochcerus or 

 Capybara^ which is the size of a small pig, and is the largest 

 known animal of the order. It has a thick muzzle, short legs, 

 coarse yellowish-brown hair, and no tail. Its feet are webbed, 

 showing its aquatic habits ; and it is said to exist, in consider- 

 able numbers, near all the large rivers of the tropical portion of 



* Bell's " British Quadrupeds," p. 355. 



