580 



THE GUINEA PIG. 



stream. The food of this animal is exclusively vegetable, and its curious teeth are 

 needed in order to bruise the herbage on which it feeds into a mass sufficiently 

 pulpy to enable it to pass through the very narrow throat. 



The Capybara is a gregarious creature, being generally found in small herds upon 

 the banks of the streams which they frequent. These animals are subject to consider- 

 able persecution at the hand of man and beast, as the flesh is remarkably good, and 

 when properly treated can be preserved like ham or bacon. The jaguar preys largely 

 on the Capybara, which is so large and fat that it affords a plentiful and succulent 

 meal ; and is so easily overcome that the jaguar finds no difficulty in supplying himself 

 with a dinner. There is a kind of musky flavor about the flesh of the Capybara which 

 is very attractive to some persons, but is equally repulsive to others. When startled, 

 it utters a peculiar sound, something between a bark and grunt, in which an indefinite 

 noise is produced, and a large amount of breath expended. 



CAPYBARA. ffydrochcerus Capybara. 



THE Cavies are well represented by the common GUINEA PIG. 



Few animals have received less appropriate names than the Guinea Pig ; for it is not 

 a pig, but a rodent, and does not come from Guinea, but from Southern America. It is 

 very easily tamed ; for its disposition is so unimpressible and dull that it accommodates 

 itself to change of locality without betraying any emotion, and seems hardly to be 

 susceptible even of fear. Being a very pretty little creature, it is in some favor as a 

 domestic pet ; and as it is remarkably prolific, it very rapidly increases in numbers, if it is 

 well defended from cold and preserved from damp, as without warmth and a dry hab- 

 itation it soon dies. The food of the Guinea Pig is exclusively of a vegetable nature, 

 and while feeding it generally sits on its hinder feet, and carries the food to its mouth 

 with its fore-paws. 



An idea of the extreme fecundity of this animal may be formed from the fact that it 

 begins to breed at ten months of age, that each brood consists on an average of six or 

 eight, and that in less than three weeks after the birth of the young family they are driven 

 to shift for themselves, and the mother is then ready for another brood. The young 

 Guinea Pigs are born with their eyes open, and covered with hair, and do not attain 

 their full dimensions until they have reached the age of eight or nine months. 



