OKDEE OE BODENTIA. 
467 
epoch. 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 different ways on each 
side of its body. 
When in captivity, Guinea-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.— Capybara ( Hydrochcerus capybara) . 
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. 
h h 2 
