INTRODUCTORY 19 



and head, the bristling hairs on which give them a fierce 

 and ludicrous appearance, quite at variance with their 

 natures which are usually very mild and gentle, except 

 when quarrelling amongst themselves, when they twist 

 and turn themselves about in a most amusing manner, 

 and assume the most bellicose attitudes and gestures, 

 making all the time a sort of chattering purr, and can 

 make an opponents fur fly, if they are allowed to make 

 use of their sharp little teeth upon him. 



I should have said, by-the-bye, it is not always safe to 

 keep Peruvians intended for show together, as they have 

 an objectionable habit of nibbling each other's hair, and, 

 by so doing, greatly disfigure perhaps a valuable specimen, 

 so that it cannot be shown for some time. 



The Bolivians, or, as they are most generally called, 

 Smooth or simply English Cavies, depend mainly on size, 

 shape, and colour, but the coat should not be too long, or 

 soft in texture. 



There are probably more of the last named than of 

 the two other varieties together, partly because there is so 

 much more choice of colours, and also that they are 

 easier to produce and keep in form than the others. 



When I first kept guinea pigs, these were the sort in 

 vogue. At that time they were very seldom seen, ex- 

 cept of two, or more, colours mixed, but now they can be 

 had of self colours such as all Black, Red, Brown, Cream, 

 White, Agouti (a sort of reddish brown with black hairs 

 mixed in, much like the little rodent known as the agouti) 

 Dutch-marked (in the way of the rabbit of that name), 

 Tortoiseshell ; and all the colours named, with the addition 



