CAVIES OR GUINEA-PIGS 35 



light grayish background, and the golden yellowish-brown. 

 Both are very handsome in color, and rather difficult to 

 produce. Silvers should be entirely free from creamy shad- 

 ing, clear-colored specimens being very uncommon. The 

 ticking in both varieties should be carried down over the 

 legs and on the belly. This point is not easily obtained, and 

 is improved by resorting to the black cross. 



The broken-colored varieties are the tortoise-shell and the 

 tortoise-shell-and-white. The former has two colors only, 

 red and black, while in the latter white is added. In both 

 varieties, the patches must be well broken, small and distinct. 

 It is difficult, especially in the tortoise-shells, to prevent the 

 interminghng, in small patches, of the two colors. This 

 condition is known as brindling, and specimens free from 

 it are uncommon. No particular markings are required, as 

 long as the colors are distinct and evenly distributed. 



The Dutch-marked is one of the most attractive of cavy 

 varieties. The markings are distinctive and clean-cut, the 

 contrasts are strong, and taken altogether a good Dutch- 

 marked is a very handsome little beast. 



The most common colors are red and black, but there 

 are also creams and agoutis, in lesser numbers. The ani- 

 mal is particolored, with solid saddle and a patch at each 

 side of the head, including the eyes and ears. The white 

 markings consist of a blaze on the forehead, white collar 

 and shoulders, and white hind feet. 



The markings must be clean-cut, the most difficult to 

 secure being the evenness of cut on the hind feet. 



The Abyssinian Cavy 



Next to the English, the Abyssinian is probably the most 

 popular of the Cavies. Contrary to common opinion, it is 

 not a long-haired breed, for the aim is to keep the coat 

 short. In quality it is exactly opposite to that of the English 



