i8o RODENTS. 



One of the best known of the many species is the restless cavy 



Restless Cavy. . , _ .^ . ^ 



(Uavia porceU'Us) ot Uruguay and. .brazil, which measures rather 



more than 10 inches in length, and attains a weight of about a pound. The 

 colour of the rather long and coarse fur is greyish brown ; and the incisor teeth 

 are white. This species is common in certain districts in the neighbourhood 

 of the Eio de la Plata, where it is known by the name of aperea. According to 

 Darwin, it is occasionally found on the sandhills or the hedges of aloes and 

 cactuses; but its more usual and favourite haunts are marshy spots covered 

 with aquatic plants. In the latter situations it lives among the shelter of the 

 vegetation, but in sandy districts it excavates burrows. It usually comes forth 

 to feed in the evenings and mornings ; but jn cloudy weather may sometimes 

 be seen abroad at all hours. In Paraguay Dr. Eengger states that it is 

 invariably found in moist situations on the borders of the forest, where it 

 lives in societies comprising from six to fifteen individuals, among the dense 

 masses of bromelia. Here it makes regular beaten paths, and never wanders 

 far afield. It breeds but once a year, producing only one or two young. Cutler's 

 cavy (0. cutleri), from Peru, is a rather smaller species, distinguished by the 

 general black hue of the fur, although the flanks and more especially the under- 

 parts tend to brown. 



Much discussion has arisen as to the origin of the domestic 

 Guinea-Pig 1 . . . 



guinea-pig. It was long considered to have been derived from the 



restless cavy ; although several writers pointed out that from its aversion to wet 

 and cold such an origin was improbable. From the researches of Dr. Nehring of 

 Berlin, it appears, however, that the real ancestor of the domestic breed is the 

 above-mentioned Cutler's cavy. It has been ascertained that the latter species 

 was domesticated by the Incas of Peru, from whence it was carried to Colombia 

 and Ecuador ; while, on the other hand, no cavy was ever domesticated in Brazil. 

 The domesticated cavies of the Incas were either uniformly white or reddish brown, 

 or a mixture of those two colours. In Europe guinea-pigs are generally either 

 white or white marked with yellow and black. Occasionally, however, they may 

 be white marked with pale yellow, and in such cases they invariably have pink 

 eyes. Sometimes, again, they may be marked with brownish black, mouse-colour, 

 or yellowish grey ; while in certain cases the black may be replaced by ashy 

 grey, when the eyes are pink. Of late years a breed has been formed with 

 exceedingly long coarse hair, and of larger size than ordinary. Guinea-pigs 

 were introduced into Europe by the Dutch during the 16th century, shortly 

 after the discovery of America ; the name being probably a corruption of 

 Guiana-pig. From their pretty appearance and ways, as well as the ease with 

 which they are kept and the rapidity with which they multiply, guinea-pigs 

 have always been favourite pets with children ; although it must be confessed 

 that from their stupidity and want of affection they cannot be regarded as very 

 interesting creatures. When, however, a number of these rodents are kept 

 together, they certainly form a pretty sight; and the manner in which they 

 follow one another round and round their place of confinement in unbroken order 

 is very remarkable. In some respects they resemble rabbits in their habits, while 

 in others they are more like mice. Their pace is by no means swift and consists 



