CHAPTER IV 



CAVIES OR GUINEA-PIGS * 



The cavy is typically a pet animal, and has no other excuse 

 for existence than the pleasure he gives those who appreci- 

 ate his good qualities. While not particularly intelligent, he 

 is far from stupid, and soon learns to greet his owner's 

 approaching footstep with a welcoming whistle. He is 

 clean, with practically no offensive odor and no animal is 

 more harmless, for an individual that will bite is very 

 unusual. 



Attempts have been made to popularize the cavy on the 

 ground that it is of great economic value, as an article of 

 food. But people who are not too keen on rabbits certainly 

 will not eat a guinea-pig, and aside from general advertising, 

 probably no gain ever was made from this claim. 



But it is to the undeniable edibility of the cavy that we 

 owe the existence of our cheerful little squeaker of today. 

 The Incas of Peru long ago domesticated the wild ancestor 

 of the modern animals — a small, tailless, unicolored member 

 of the genus Cavia, the exact identity of which is a matter 

 of some doubt. These creatures were allowed to run freely 

 about the homes of their owners, whose object in breeding 

 them undoubtedly was for their food value. The time 

 which must have elapsed since this domestication was first 

 begun is evident from the entirely changed color of the 

 present-day cavy. 



Just when the guinea-pig was taken to Europe seems to 

 be lost in obscurity. At any rate, it is certain that they 



* Reprinted in part from Country Life in America, December, 1916. 

 Courtesy Doubleday, Page & Co. 



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