OEDEE OF EODENTIA. 



467 



epocli. This fact may at least be inferred from their being 

 marked by large black and yellow patches on a white ground, a 

 peculiarity of colour which they presented even before their intro- 

 duction into Europe in the middle of the sixteenth century — a 

 peculiarity which cannot be attributed to the agency of nature, 

 as no wild Mammal is ever marked in dilferent ways on each 

 side of its body. 



"When in captivity, Gruinea-Pigs manifest no intelligence, they 

 seem entirely absorbed in satisfying their material wants, and 

 do not appear to have any consciousness of caresses bestowed on 



Fig. 199.— Capybai'a [Hydruckxrus cupybara). 



them. As the females produce a good many at a birth, and 

 the young ones are fitted for reproduction at a very early age, 

 it naturally results that they multiply rapidly. Buffon stated 

 that a single couple might have a progeny of a thousand within 

 the year. They are nocturnal in their habits. 



There is one peculiarity which is not very often met with 

 among Mammals, that of the young ones coming into the 

 world almost wholly developed, their size alone excepted. This 

 is the case with Guinea-pigs. In point of fact, when they are 

 born they can follow their mother about and eat and suck, for 

 their teeth are, even at this early age, very strong. 



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