MAMMALIA — GUINEA-PIG. 261 



THE GUINEA-PIG i 



Though originally a native of the warm climates of Brazil and Guinea, 

 lives, however, and breeds in temperate and even cold countries, provided 

 it is properly taken care of. Its skin is of little or no value ; and the flesh, 

 though people may, and actually do eat it, is very indifferent food ; a cir- 

 cumstance which might, in some measure, be removed, were they to be 

 reared in warrens, where they might have air, space to range in, and a 

 proper choice of herbs. Those which are kept in houses have nearly the 

 same taste as the house rabbit ; and of those which have passed the sum- 

 mer in a garden, the taste is less disagreeable, but is still insipid. 



The Guinea-pig is much less than the rabbit ; its upper lip is only half 

 divided; it has two cutting teeth in each jaw; large and broad ears; its 

 hair is of different colors, white, varied with orange and black, in irregular 

 patches. It has no tail, and is very restless, from which latter circumstance 

 it derives the epithet affixed to one of its names. 



The growth of these animals is not entirely completed till the expiration* 

 of eight or nine months ; though indeed it is in apparent bulk and fat that 

 they chiefly increase till then, the developement of the solid parts being 

 finished before the age of five or six months. The female never goes with 

 young above three weeks ; and she has been known to bring forth when 

 only tAVO months old. The first litter is not so numerous as the subsequent 

 litters. It does not amount to more than four or five ; the second amounts 

 to five or six, and the rest to seven or eight, and even to ten or eleven. 

 She does not suckle her young longer than twelve or fifteen days. Thus 

 these animals produce at least every two months ; and as those which are 

 newly born produce in the same manner, their multiplication is astonishing. 

 In one year a thousand might be obtained from a single couple, did they 

 not frequently destroy each other, and perish from the cold and wet. 



The Guinea-pig feeds on all sorts of herbs, and especially on parsley, 

 which it prefers even to bran, flour, or bread. Of apples and other fruits it 

 is also exceedingly fond. Like the rabbit, it eats precipitately, little at a 

 time, but very often. It whines somewhat like a young pig. 



So cleanly are Guinea-pigs, that much of their time is spent in licking 

 and smoothing the fur of each other, and of the little ones ; and should the 



1 Cavia cobaya, Desm. The genus Cavia has two upper and two lower incisors; no 

 canines; eight upper and eight lower molars. Body thick; muzzle short, compressed ; 

 eyes large; ears round ; legs short, four toes on the fore feet, three on the hind feet, nat 

 palmated ; no tail ; two ventral teats. « 



