CAVIES OR GUINEA-PIGS 31 



Ordinarily, two meals per day will suffice for the cavy's 

 wants. Good, clean, full oats and bran, dry or slightly 

 dampened, should be given, with some sort of fresh vege- 

 tables or green food. In winter, carrots and cabbage or let- 

 tuce are always obtainable, but during the summer months 

 as great a variety as possible should be given. Almost any- 

 thing green is appreciated, such as clover, dandelion, plan- 

 tain and even fresh grass. 



When babies are expected, and for a while after their 

 birth, bread and milk should be supplied. 



Fresh water should be in the hutches at all times. Cavies 

 are not great -drinkers, and when green food is abundant 

 can get on without liquids. For this reason, many persons 

 never give water, but this practice is reprehensible and 

 careless, 



Cavies are uncommonly healthy creatures, and if reason- 

 able care is used in keeping their quarters clean, and in 

 providing correct food, there is little likelihood of trouble 

 caused' by sickness. 



If disease or injury does occur, the individual afflicted 

 should be isolated at once. Unless it is a particularly valu- 

 able specimen, or the trouble is trifling, it is better to despatch 

 it at once, rather than expose the entire stock to infection. 



Breeding 



This is the most interesting phase of pet-keeping and as 

 little or as much may be made of it as suits the individual. 

 There is much to be learned of the operation of natural 

 laws if one is inclined to observe. The breeding of cavies 

 to standard requirements is an art as complicated as that 

 which produces a Derby winner, and based on the same 

 principle. 



The old haphazard method, by which a number of ani- 



