Cavies.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1893, 23 August 1884, Page 6 (Supplement)

Cavies.

I believe that but few persons in England know what an exceedingly delicate, savory article of food the cayy — otherwise guinea-pig — is, when it has keen properly fed. and prepared for the table, for if the publio were more generally acquainted with the good qualities of these little rodents, there would be a large demand for them, and our porkbutchers and poulterers would exhibit them in their shops as commonly aa they now do auflking-pigs or chickens ; bat at the present time, "stewed oavies," "curried eavies," ° cavy soup," and all the various preparations that can be made of eavies, are delicacies confined to the tables of a few people who are rather epicurean in their tastes, and who feed and breed the animals for their own especial tise. Still there is no reason why, so. far as my experience goes, eavies should not be cheaply reared ; they are very hardy, and "they will thrive on very inexpensive food. They eat all the vegetables that rabbits delight in, and particularly relish bran, hay, or .even straw as a change. That most common of all weeds, the' groundsel, is as great a treat to a cavy as it is tola caged 'canary-bird, and ia always* beneficial change ,

A gentleman, a Fellow of the ! Zoologio&l Society, who takes great interest in the breeding of cavies, and who keeps a verylarge stcok of them at his place in Herts, very kifadly gave me two pairs. One pair had been killed, scalded, and out open (they lo6ked liked tiny sudking pigs) and Were ready for the cook. We had too entrees, one white, the other browft— a stew and ft curry—both were delicious, and much liked. The other pair of cavies arrived in a state of liveliness. They were a different kind to the ©rdinary guinea-pigs, and had long, silken hair. They looked more like very small Skye Terriers than common oavies, arid are the deafest little pets imaginable. I intend to keep them most carefully, and trust the little Peruvians will increase and multiply in their new home. They are located in a large hutch made out of an old store- ease, With proper compartments, one entirely dim and dark serves for their eleeping-room ; the other light, and with a wire front, is the talll a manger. They generally dine off a good slice of raw beef, with some bran and a cabbageleaf or two. They always have a good supply of clean water, and when I wa&t to give them an extra treat, a saucer full of milk is pnt in their cage. They arc most gentle docile pets, and soon become quite tame, never dream of making use of their rather formidable little teeth, except to bite their food, and ate consequently much nicer pets for children than either cats or dogs. — The Science Monthly.