[Illustration:
THE GUINEA PIG.
]
This curious little animal, which is sometimes called the Restless Cavy,
is a native of Brazil, but many of them are kept in a domestic state in
various countries. It is of the rabbit kind, and resembles that animal
very much in its appearance and habits. It is not quite so large as the
rabbit, and is marked with white, black, and orange colours. It has not
got any tail, which makes it look very curious. It is a very neat
animal, and spends much of its time in cleaning the fur of its
companions. It never seems to form any attachment, and will suffer its
young to be taken away and destroyed, without making any resistance. If
any of their young ones chance to get dirtied the female takes such a
dislike to them, that she will never let them come near her again.
Guinea Pigs will sometimes scratch and kick each other till they are
covered with blood.
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