VARIEGATED CAVr. 



17 



recesses which they either find ready prepared, 

 or form for themselves. The most familiar ex- 

 ample of this genus is the well-known little ani- 

 mal, called the Guinea-Pig, or Cavia Cobaya, 



VARIEGATED CAVY. 



Cavia Cobaya. C. ecaudata ex albo et rufo vel nigro mnegata, 



Lin. Syst. Nat. Gmel. p. 122. 

 Tailless Cavy^ generally variegated either with black and white^ 



or rufous J &c, &c. 

 Mus Porcellus. M. cauda nulla, palmis tetradactylis, 'plantis tri- 



dactylis. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 79. 

 Cuniculus Indicus. Nieremb. Hist. Nat, p. 160. Aldr. dig. 



P' 390, 391. Jonst. Quadr. 162. 

 Le Cochon D'Inde. Biif. S. p. i.pl. i. 

 Restless Cavy. Pennant Quadr. 2. j7. 89. 



This species, from the beauty and variety of its 

 colours and the neatness of its appearance, must 

 have early attracted the attention of those Euro- 

 peans who first visited South America ; even the 

 wild or native specimens, being variegated with 

 black, white, reddish, or yellow, in the same 

 manner as those which are so frequently reared in 

 Europe. This little animal is very easily rendered 

 tame, but is seldom observed to shew any very 

 lively attachment to its benefactors ; and is not di- 

 stinguished by any remarkable degree of docility : 

 it is, however, cleanly, harmless, and of a timid 

 disposition. In a state of confinement it breeds 

 almost every two months ; and often produces a 



V. II. p. I. 2 



