30 MAMMALS 



bedding. A hutch three feet long, two feet wide and 

 eighteen inches high will accommodate a male, or boar and 

 three females, or sows, as they are known among breeders. 

 Variants of these dimensions are, of course, just as satis- 

 factory, but the inmates should be given plenty of room. 



Cavies are supposed by many persons to drive away 

 rats and mice simply by their presence, and are sometimes 

 kept for this absurd reason. Quite the contrary is the case, 

 for rats will make havoc in the caviary, killing the babies and 

 sometimes attacking the adults. Mice are less aggressive, 

 but also troublesome because they enter the hutches and 

 contaminate the food. 



It is best, therefore, to cover the fronts of the cages with 

 half-inch mesh wire, which will exclude these undesirables. 

 Part of the front may be boarded up solidly and a slide, 

 perforated with suitable entrance holes, run through at right 

 angles, thus forming an inner sleeping-box. Or the entire 

 front may be wired, and a movable box placed inside. At 

 any rate, this secluded portion is necessary. 



If cavies are to be kept on a large scale, these hutches 

 may be constructed in tiers, one above the other, in some 

 convenient barn or outhouse. So long as there is protection 

 from wind and dampness, artificial heat is not necessary, 

 except in the case of the Peruvian, although of course it 

 may be used if desired. 



The best bedding for the hutch is clean sawdust, free 

 from dirt and large bits of wood. This should be renewed 

 frequently, and if this be done conscientiously, the cavies 

 will remain clean and odorless. 



Sweet, clean meadow or clover hay may be used inside 

 the sleeping-box. If it is quite full, the cavies will bur- 

 row underneath and keep warm and comfortable. Hay 

 is one of the chief items of the guinea-pig's diet, and should 

 be at hand at all times. 



