1 8 RABBITS, CATS, AND CAVIES 



Smooth cavies, but such division I consider is wrong, and 

 most unfavourable to the Abyssinian variety, as by this 

 classification they have to be entered in the former or 

 " rough class," and often meet in competition specimens 

 of the Peruvian variety, usually with disastrous effect to 

 their chances, unless, as is not always the case, the judge 

 has been a fancier and breeder of all three varieties, when 

 he can appreciate the good qualities of each. 



As I have bred and kept many hundreds of cavies, and 

 taken scores of prizes with all the varieties, I can speak 

 with some experience of them, and whenever I come across 

 a really good Abyssinian shown in a rough class, I always 

 try to get him into the first three, unless there are three 

 <c topping " Peruvians to oust him, and this, I contend, is 

 the duty of any judge under such circumstances. 



I hope in the course of these pages, to go more into 

 detail about all the varieties named, so that in these 

 introductory remarks I will only lightly touch upon 

 them. 



The long-haired, or Peruvians, after size and shape 

 are considered, depend mainly on the quantity and quality 

 of their coats, and some of them are really very beautiful 

 little creatures, even from an outsider's point of view, 

 whilst the length and shading of their coverings are very 

 remarkable, and worthy of attention. 



The rough-haired, or Abyssinians, have coats which 

 seem to lie the wrong way that is, they turn every way 

 but lying smooth and are covered with little rosettes of 

 hair, each somewhat the size and shape of a dandelion 

 flower. These are continued all over the bodies, sides 



