THE GUINEA PIG. 147 
to bruise the herbage on which it feeds into a mass sufficiently pulpy to 
enable it to pass through the very narrow throat. 
Few animals have received less appropriate names than the GUINEA PIG; 
for it is not'a pig, but a rodent, and does not come from Guinea, but from 
Southern America. Being a very pretty little creature, it is in some favour 
as adomestic pet: and as itis remarkably prolific, it very rapidly increases in 
numbers, if it is well defended from cold and preserved from damp. 
The food of the Guinea Pig is exclusively of a vegetable nature, and while 
feeding it generally sits on its hinder feet, and carries its food to its mouth 
with its fore-paws. 
An idea of the extreme fecundity of this animal may be formed from the 
fact that it begins to breed at ten months of age, that each brood consists of 
an average of six or eight, and that in less than six weeks after the birth ot 
GUINEA PIG.—(Cdvia Aperéa.) 
the young family they are driven to shift for themselves, and the mother is 
then ready for another brood. The young Guinea Pigs are born with their 
eyes open, and covered with hair, and do not attain their full dimensions 
until they have reached the age of eight or nine months. 
The colour of the Guinea Pig is very variable ; but is generally composed 
of white, red, and black, in patches of different size and shape in each 
individual.’ The bare portions of the skin are flesh-coloured, and the eye is 
brown. The animal is of little direct use to mankind, as its flesh is held in 
very low estimation, and its hair is so slightly attached to the skin that its 
coat is useless to the furrier. 
THE common HARE is known from the rabbit by the redder hue of its fur, 
the great proportionate length of its black-tipped ears, which are nearly an 
inch longer than the head ; by its very long hind legs, and its large and 
prominent eyes. When fully grown it is of considerable size, weighing on 
the average about eight or nine pounds, and sometimes attaining the weight 
of twelve or even thirteen pounds. In total length it rather exceeds two feet, 
the tail being about three inches long. The colour of the common Hare is 
greyish brown on the upper portions of the body, mixed with a dash of yellow; 
the abdomen is white, and the neck and breast are yellowish white. The 
tail is black on the upper surface and white underneath, so that when the 
creature runs it exhibits the white tail at every leap. Sometimes the colour. 
of the Hare deepens into black, and there are many examples of albino 
spécimens of this animal. 
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