This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 edition. Excerpt: ...and begin themselves to breed at the age of three or four months, although they do not attain their full growth until they are eight or mine months old. Beyond a certain degree of prettiness in their external appearance, and their extreme cleanliness, there is but little to recommend these animals to popular ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 edition. Excerpt: ...and begin themselves to breed at the age of three or four months, although they do not attain their full growth until they are eight or mine months old. Beyond a certain degree of prettiness in their external appearance, and their extreme cleanliness, there is but little to recommend these animals to popular favour. They seem to be totally incapable of any marked affection either to their keepers or their offspring, as they will allow the latter to be taken away from them without manifesting the slightest uneasiness. Guinea-pigs are very tender animals, and easily susceptible of cold. As winter approaches they should therefore be provided with a warmer shelter and bedding. When kept in a room they seldom cross the floor, but generally creep round by the walls, their motions greatly resembling those of a rabbit. They are very careful in keeping themselves and their offspringneat and tidy, and may be frequently seen smoothing and dressing their fur somewhat in the manner of a cat. This seems to be the chief employment both of the male and female. After having smoothed and dressed each other's fur both turn their attention to their young, from whose coats they most sedulously endeavour to remove the smallest speck of dirt, at the same time trying to keep their hair smooth and unruffled, and biting them severely if they are the least refractory under the operation. The usual voice of guinea-pigs is a sort of grunting squeak; sometimes, however, a shriller, sharper cry is heard when anything hurts them. Guinea-pigs sleep with their eyes half-open when taking repose. The male and female are very seldom asleep together, but seem to sleep by turns, and alternately watch each other. Sometimes the members of the guinea-pig family fight, and that in a very...
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