^CAVY Our Fancy Guinea Pig PRICE 25 CENTS THE OAA^Y OUR l^^AISCY GUINEA PIG "WrilleTi by J. HENRI WAGNER, 'Presidtsit American Fur Fanciers Association of America." Washijigtan, D. C, Putlished by PET STOCK WORLD COMPANY, Baltimore, Md. Coi)yriKlit, by August M. Roth, 1915. -^)Q.q\N<- 'C(.A410668 fK Introduction. In offering to the pet stock world this l)Ooklet on "The Cavy. Our Fancy Guinea Pig," I do not wish it to be con- sidered as covering every phase of the cavy fancy. This would be an impossibility. It is. however, different from anything heretofore published. Some of the books now on the market lack many of the essentials which go to educate the novice along the lines so necessary in the production of a successful exhibition cavy; while others contain a profusion of irrelevancy which the present day business man has no time to read. I have endeavored to present, with such simplicity that a child may readily understand, the most important cares in connection with the rearing of this interesting pet, and I trust the infornxation contained herein may be of as much benetit to the young fancier as it has been mj- pleasure to impart. J. HENRI WAGNER. THE CA^^Y OUR WA.NCY GUINEA PIG Habitat — Description. The cavy, or guinea pig, iis it is commonly known, is the name applied to several South American rodent animals included in the *"ca\ idae" familw but naturalists apply it. perhaps more properly, to the genus "cavia." The cavy, in its wild state, is distributed over an exten- sive area of South Americ:i and is represented by several species: the more common being- the aperea or cobaya (restless cavy) of Brazil; the Bolivian cavy, boliviensis, found at great elevations in the Andes Mountains; the Bra- zilian rock-cavy, cavia rupestris, characterized by its short blunt claws, and the Peruvian cavia cutleri, which is sup- l)osed to hav^e been tamed by the Incas. the reigning aristo- cratic and priestly caste of Ancient Peru, between 1240 and 1523. This theory seems quite plausible wdien we con- sider the marvelous development of the Llama which is accredited to the Incas. who regarded this animal as royal property, and almost as sacred as to India its white elephant. The early history of the cavy is so veiled in m3'stery that it is questionable whether our common guinea pig de- scended from the specie known as cavia porcellus or cavia aperea of Brazil, the cavia cobaya, or the Pcru\ian cavia cutleri. Its introduction into Europe after the cc^nquest of THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. Peru by the Spaniards warrants the conclusion that it must have been the pet of the remarkable peoples that inhabited the fabled gold-laden country of the Andes. The name "guinea pig" appears to be a misnomer of un- known origin, some authorities conjecturing that it is a corruption of guinea-pig; others, that it was derived from *;he association with the English coin, "guinea," for which it is said to have been sold in England during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; and still others that the word "guinea" merely signifies foreign. The cavy is a small quadruped, rarely weighing over three pounds, its normal weight being about two and a half pounds. It is stoutly, well built, with short, rounded ears: the tail, while conspicuous by its absence, is rudi- mentary. It has four front and three hind toes, imperfect collar bones, the incisor teeth short and the outer surface of the lower jaw marked by a distinct ridge. Being a herb ivorous animal, it feeds upon nearly all veg- etable substances, and while its requirements for water are small it seems to thrive better with a supply at hand at all times. Its never failing appetite prompts it to be always on the alert for its master and it manifests its pleasure in seeing him, as well as to indicate that it is awaiting another portion of food, by a succession of faint squeaks and grunts. In its wild state the cavy, while a fertile breeder, pro- duces but one or two young at birth, and then only once a year. The domesticated pig produces from two to five litters a year, with as many as seven in a single litter. The young are fully developed when born, eyes open, bodies covered with fur and of the same color as when full grown. While the young are not weaned until the third week, they commence eating after the first day of their existence. SEP 27 1915 THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG, The cavy is a sing-ularly inoffensive and defenceless crea- ture, of a very excitable disposition, and lacks that intelli- ji-ence which usually characterizes domestic pets, although some have been trained by animal trainers for the stage. It is said to be used in the country of its nativity as food for human consumption, but the demand for cavy Hesh has never spread to the northern continent, nor to Europe. No use has yet been put to its fur. which, unlike most fur animals, it is constantly shedding. The cavy is, however, used extensively for the propagation and testing of anti- toxins and for other experimentations in laboratories. Beyond this, it is of no particular service to man and the statement that it may be used to drive off rats and mice is without foundation. As a pet for children, however, it is one of the best obtainable, being perfectly harmless. Because of its great fecundity and the ease with which it vields to experiment the fancier has taken a keen interest in this little creature and since the middle of the nineteenth century wonderful strides have been made in perfecting it to the standard which man thinks Nature should have adopted in its natural law of selection. From the vari-colored wild animal the patient fancier, aided by "Father Time" has produced a dozen distinct colors and combinations of the rarest hues, as well as the most freakish abnormalities, from Nature's standpoint, in its shape and length of coat. It has risen from its insignrficance and humble wandering life among acquatic plants in marshy districts, and the crags in the mountain sides of South America, to the dis- tinction of being groomed and petted by the aristocracy of the British Empire and other leaders of society through- out the civilized world. THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. Housing. The subject of hotisino- is one that requires considera1)le study if the fancier contemplates extensive breeding. Time is a great factor in every business. If the fancier is satis- fied with a few cavies, two or three shoe cases or soap boxes will answer the purpose. If, on the other hand, he has higher aspirations, he should build and arrange his hutches so as to minimize the amount of labor required in cleaning. Ideal hutches may be cheaply constructed of ordinary flooring, tongued and grooved; covered with half- inch wire mesh to keep out rats and mice, which not only cat the food, but devour the young. In building the hutches here shown, which can also l)e used for rabbits, the floors are made removable to facilitate cleaning. They slope toward the rear of the hutches — the slope lieing one inch in two feet (the outside width of the hutches). The floors themselves, however, are but twenty inches in depth, as the entire rear part of the hutches is equipped with a four-inch galvanized iron gutter, such as is used under the eaves of houses, which is covered with half-inch wire mesh. Cavies invariably seek the darkest part of the hutch to secrete their olral, and the above hutches are so constructed that the urine and droppings are precipitated through the wire mesh into the gutter, thereby keeping the floors dry at all times and preventing the cavies from lying on damp litter and avoiding conse- quent colds and other diseases. In cleaning the hutches all that is necessary is to scrape stray droppings into the gutter, remove the floor and gutter, which rest on the side strips supporting the floor, clean, and return to their respective places. It requires but thirty or forty minutes THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. c X THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. to clean a dozen hutches constructed alono^ these lines. The old adag^e: "cleanliness is next to Godliness." is just as applicable to the successful raising- of cavies as to lon- gevity of life in the human race, for most of the fatal diseases contracted by cavies are due to tilth or impure food and water. Hutches should be roomy, yet free from draughts. Plenty of exercise not only aids digestion, but creates a bigger appetite, which encourages growth. If the hutches are constructed of the size illustrated, to wit: three feet long-, two feet deep and eighteen inches high, each one will accommodate one boar and three sows without crowding, and at the same time give the "restless cavy" an opportun- ity to keep moving most of the time, as cavies are more active when a few are kept together than when they are alone. They should be so placed as to receive the rays of the sun, for there is no better germicide than sunlight. A cavy can be bred at the age of two months, but early breeding stunts the growth of the sow and renders it un- suitable for exhibition purposes. Early breeding also results in the production of undersized youngsters. Size is a great factor, when the judge's eye falls upon his subject. Sows should not be bred before they are seven or eight months old. It is not wise to permit more than three sows to run with one boar, although many fanciers advocate as many as tive. The young are usually weaned the third week, at the end of which time the sexes should be sep- arated and each sex placed in a separate run for develop- ment. Males may be allowed to run together, as a rule, until four or tive months of age, without seriously molest- ing each other, but in so doing, the fancier runs the risk of having a few slit ears, which disqualifies a cavy in com- petition. It is well to give the sow a few weeks rest, after pigging, to regain her normal strength before breeding her again. This is particularly necessary where sows are per- mitted to raise large litters. A cavy has but two teats, and the drain on her vitality is great when compelled to rear a large family. THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. Bleeding. Temal© Male LINK bkkkdim;. A good strain can I)est l)e ])er[)etuated an 1 inii'i' 'vkI liv ;n iniclli- gent system of line l-reeding. Study the chart. I'tr sme ; nd hegin v\ith strung, vigorous pigs, those that liave n )t l)een too closely l)rtd. Ilegin at the to >. Xote that the male is always represtnled by a solid line, the female l>y a dotted line. Kach circle represents the progeny, viz.: No. 1 mated to No. 2 jjroduces group No. .>. v\hich is oiu--lialt the hlf)od of sire and dam. .\ male from group No. 3 mated black to his own dam ( .\"o. 1) jiroduce groui> ^o. 4, which is three-cjuarters the l)l<;od of the- dam (\o. 1) and one-quarter the i)lood (f the sire (No. 2). 'l"he fractions illustrate relationshij) between new groups and the original i^igs. I'ollow this plan on down and we have in No. 16 the new strain. ?nd in No. 18 the strain of our original sire No. 2, thus giving us .5 distinct strains, and by this system we may gv) on breeding iiidel.nitely. .Study the ( hart. THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. In order to attain the best results, line breeding- must be indulged in, and occasional inbreeding will do no harm, but care must be exercised not to inbreed to excess. Study the line breeding chart here illustrated. It will pay you. This may be overcome by introducing a new unrelated boar into the caviary when the stock appears to lose its vitality and quality. In purchasing a new stud boar explicit in- .structions relative to the prominent points desired should be given to the fancier from whom it is l)eing ordered, or years of effort may be wasted. Remember that strength of bone, color of eyes, mark- ing's, color and length of coat, are usually transmitted through the boar, while constitution, shape of body, or type, size, and quality of coat, through the sow. Of course this rule is open to exceptions, like all others when there is interference with the law of natural selection. It is not unusual for cavies sometimes to produce young with char- acteristics that do not appear in either parent, but which existed in some distant ancestor, and which lay dormant until the propitious moment for its reappearance. It is therefore unwise to mate two cavies, possessing the same faults — such as too light or too dark a coat, pointed faces, or badly shaped ears, etc. As stated by our English fan- cier-author, Mr. C. A. House, "In mating we want not only to pair two animals together, but they want to be so mated that the g^ood and bad points of each will blend into one — if not perfect — almost perfect whole. We weigh up care- fully all the little differences in shape, size, coat, color, etc.. and then pair the pets so as to get as many good points. and as few bad ones as possible." There are many reasons why this rule will not produce just what the fancier anticipates and desires, such as van- THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. ance in the ages of the hreeders. interior (|iiality in some of the points in an ancestor of one of the mates, or the prepotency of one or the other. Many a winner is pro- duced In' mating- an old sow possessed of good color. ct)at and shape with one of her sons which carries the good (pialities of the father, and the old hoar with his daughter: while even l)etter results are sometimes attained hy cross- ing lirother and sister. The continuance of such a practice for a prolonged period is. however, to be discouraged. ()nly the best specimens should l)e used for breeding- purposes. They should likewise ])e in the best condition before mating. It is well to kill all culls — mismarked, ill- sliaped and deformed — at birth, so that the strength of the mother may be used entirely to develqp the best offspring-. Finally, purchase new stock only from reliable fanciers who have develoi)cd their strains by i^ersistent line breed- ing; who will guarantee strong-, healthy breeders, and who can produce the show catalogs to contirm their assertion that their stock won in competition with other fanciers, and not with their own stock. vSucIi stock will be of bene- fit in building- up a strain, and no other. 10 THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA FIG. Feeding. The subject of fccdfn.u is one which is usually s^ovenicd l)y the experience and whim of each individual fancier. Aside from advisin<^ that only pure, clean food be sys- tematically stip|)lied to the cavies durint^" the various statics of their lives and condition, little can he said. The c:i\y is not particular about the variety of food of- fered, but it insists that whatever it be it must be clean. In the way of stdid foods: hay. oats, cracked corn, wheat, bread occasionally, and the many varieties of meals, ma}' be fed ; while in greens, they are \ ery fond of water cress, rl()\er and other grasses, lettuce, dandelion, chickery. plan- tain, parsle}', carrots, beets, and, in fact, almost any greens. .Some fanciers discourage feeding raw i)otatoes and cab- bage, as they have a tendency to cause diarrhoea. It will be found tc) be most economical, as well as j)ro- ducti\e of the best results, if only wholesome food be ofifered to cavies. This is particularly so in "forcing" the growth of }(^ung pigs. Regularit}' in the hours of feeding, as well as the (|uantity fed. also recpiire careful observance. The ci\y needs to be fed only twice a da3\ althougli some fan- ciers gi\'e an extra treat at noon time. A good schedule is to feed a bountiful sup])ly of hay and some oats and other grains, as well as a small handful of greens or roots for each i)ig. between six and eight o'clock in the morning. I)etween four and six o'clock in tlie evetiing, fresh water and some more hay and grain wmII carry them through tlie night. In summer time they should have water twice a day. In the winter uK^nths the water should be just warm enough to take ofif the chill, while in summer they deligr.t THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 1 1 in drinking cool water. The pigs do not need a second in- vitation to partake of water in winter or summer when offered in this manner. I have experimented along the lines suggested by some fanciers — i. e., not giving any water except on extremely warm days, and my experience has been that the cavies which have had water before them at all times are in much better condition and give better results than those which do not receive any water at all or at rare intervals. Particular attention should be paid to sows in litter, be- cause toward the close of the gestatory period and while suckling their young they require more grasses, greens and roots than at other times. At these periods carrots and sprouted oats may be fed more liberally as they increase the supply of milk. Milk may also be offered at this time as both sows and young will welcome it and it will be found to give good results. English fanciers recommend a number of mashes and mixtures, but I have never found them necessary under the system of feeding I have adopted. Of course, I doubt not that the mashes are very nourishing and beneticial, l)ut considering the time and labor, I have not been able to reconcile myself to the belief that they are necessary. Remember that foul water, mouldy hay and oats, and frosted roots or overheated grasses will cause more dis- eases and deaths than anything else. 12 THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. Diseases. Sunli.^ht is a .uerniicick' and that foul water and feed are the causes (^f many diseases. Diarrhoea is the cause of more deaths in the caviary than any other disease, and is mostly due to im])roper feed- ins^. Unless prompt measures are taken inmiediately after the disease is discovered, dru^s are of little avail. Some fanciers recommend from t'.fteen to twenty drops of castor oil or sweet oil; followed shortly after\\-ard with three or four drops of laudnum. \\ liile tliis trcc.i;menL is being- administered i' is i)est to remo\ e all food from the hutch for twenty-four hours, and thereafter lH\tiin feeding with a little hay and oats and fresh water. Do not feed greens for several days after the disease is checked. Sud- den changes from food v.-ith a low percentage of j/rotein and fats to food containing a high percentage often cause diarrhoea, such as changing from timothy to alfalfa hay; oats to soaked Canada or maple peas. etc. Colds manifest themselves in several ways: A dry cough; affections of the eyes, a wate^v-ldce substanc.^ 'un- ning therefrom; and pneumonia. These are most gen- erally caused by draughts or subjecting the cavies to sud- den changes of temperature. For the last named, there is little hope of effecting a cure, but for ordinary colds two drops of aconite in a teaspoonful of vv-ater or milk will often relieve the troul)le. For the eyes a solution of boracic acid composed of a teaspoonful to half a tuml)ler of water is effectix e. Bare Patches are often caused by lice nibbling at the THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 13 coat, or tlu'v may l)c caused 1)}' oxer-licatcd blood. A pinch of powdered sulphur in their food and plenty of green food will ol)viate the troulile if caused i)y the latter. A paste composed of a little sulphur and sweet oil should be rubbed into the bare patches daily for several days. However, if lice are found to be the cause, after applying the sulphur and sweet oil paste, dust well w^ith a lice pow- der or wash with a weak solution of carbolic acid and water, sa}- half teaspoonful to two quarts. These diseases arc the most common and such as require prompt measures. 'Inhere are other diseases such as tuberculosis (going light), paralysis, etc., wdiich are rarely cured, and unless it is a ver}^ valuable animal time and trouble may be saved by destroying it. 14 THE CAVY.--OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. Varieties and Standards. This subject has been sadly neglected by our authors. and is one that should, next to feeding, stand foremost in our mind's eye. Too many of us forget the IDExA.L, or the standard of perfection which we should follow as ou ' guide, and instead dote on some particular shade of color, shape or setting of ears, or "buffalo" shoulders, and forget the average of all the points for which we should strive. English. The structure of the English cavy is described by Mr. House as follows: "The English cavy must be cobby. Its head large and chubby, with a good Roman nose; the eyes should be bold, bright, and prominent, the neck short. with great depth of shoulder, the back broad and massive, with well-formed hindquarters; the ears should be well set on. and droop gracefully, not enough to be styled um- brellas, but just a nice, well-turned droop. Prick ears give a rat-like appearance to the head. The coat should in all varieties be short, perfectly smooth, and very soft and silky to the touch." In this variety we have, at present, six self, or solid colors: black, red, cream, white, chocolate, and blue. The last two colors are still in their infancy, although consid- erable progress has been made in perfecting the same. In the broken, or vari-colored, are the tortoise shell (black and red), tortoise shell and white (black, red and white), Dutch, Golden Agouti, Silver Agouti, Himalayan, and Brindle. A steady advance is also being- made in pro- ducing such combinations as agouti, red and white; choco- late, red and white; and cinnamon colored. These, when THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 15 IP \a - ^ lu I u u H 1 11 tlie illustration we have the typical l^nglish Cavy, so ably ilrawn l)y Dreese. the artist, for Pet Stock World. 16 THE CAVY.-CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. exentuall}' perfected, will create quite an interest as they are most difficult to produce. The BLACK cav}- should be of the intense blackness of the Raven, full of lustre, with a tine, sleek coat. It is an easy matter to obtain a good outer coat, but the deep black color should extend to the skin. It is frequently necessary to introduce wdiite or red into the l)lack cavy, which must always l)e through the sow. This will enrich the color, v\diile an agouti cross will be found to improve the silkiness of the coat. The RED ca\_\ is described b}- some 9s a "rich, bright orange," and l)y others as a "tomato red." The greatest care should Ije exercised to keep out the mahogau}^ color. Some fanciers introduce a cream sow- to the red stud boar when the red becomes too dark and pronounced. Like the bkick. it is well at times to cross a red boar with a tortoise and white sow^ to enrich the color, and with a golden agouti sow^ to improve the quality of the coat. The CREAM sh.ould be just as its name indicates. The Englishman calls it "Devonshire" cream. It should not be too dark, as many of the creams are too near an orange color, rather than cream. However, when cream comes too light, it may be well to introduce darker color by the use of a red sow. The WHITE should be snowy white, with wdiite ears and ])ink eyes. Being albinos they almost invariably breed true to cohjr, and when so bred they usually have very pretty ears. P.ut when crossed with a dark colored pig, the cars will have a dirty appearance. This should be avoided. THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 17 The CHOCOLATE cavy should be the coh)r of a fresh cake of chocolate; uniformly colored over entire lK)dy, in- cluding- ears, feet and toe nails. The color should extend down the full length of the hair, right to tlie skin. The BLUE is not only the latest color ]M-ochi^ed in the self varieties, but the least perfected as well. The shades thus far presented are too slaty, and appear to be no more than faded black. When finally perfected this will l)e one of the most beautiful colors obtainable in cavies. The TORTOISE SHELL is a rarity in the United States, and in fact T learn that it is not as popular in England as the TORTOISE SHELL AND WHITE. In the former the colors should be red and black; while in the latter whit:e is added. There should be absolutely no brindling of colors, that is to say intermixing, and the i^atches should be as numerous and uniform as possiijle. The tortoise- shell and white may have a one, two or three colored factf. the latter, when obtained with a good white blaze, being the most attractive. The DUTCH and HniALAYAX should be marked similar to the rabbits of the same colors. The former has been bred for a longer period than the latter, hence has reached a higher state of perfection. Both are exceedingly difficult to produce, if one aims at perfection; and wh.en the specimens are anywhere near the "ideal," they are beauti- ful to behold. The "Ideal Dutch Cavy" illustrated herein gives an excellent idea as to the beauty of this little crea- ture if it could be perfectly produced. In the Himalayan, all ends should be of some solid color other than white. v/ImIc the rest of the body should be snowy wdiite. free from brindling. 18 THE CAVY.-CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. O c a THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 19 -avy. Courtesy Doubleday, Page & Co. and J, Henri Wagner. 20 THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. AGOUTI is the name applied to the variety whose color has been copied from the wild Agouti, or "'Cotia" in Portuguese, native of Brazil. The wild agouti and cavi- are not related, only the color of the former having at- tracted the inventive and imitative eye of the fancier. This variety made its hrst appearance in the Crystal Palace Show. London, in 1888. It is bred in two com])inations. golden and grey, or silver. The former should be of a rich golden brown, while the latter a silvery grey, both evenly ticked on top, sides, chest and feet, but void of ticking on belly. In the golden agouti the belly should be rich, deep red; while in the silver agouti a pearl grey color should be attained. The BRINDLE cavy is not popular, because it is not as beautiful as any of the self or broken colored varieties, and is probably the most difficult to breed. The brindling is not easily obtained and even the most ardent and patient fancier l)ecomes discouraged Ijefore he has half readied the goal. Peruvian. The Peruvian Cavy. as a variety, stands in a class by itself. While it doubtless originated in the same country as the English Cavy, it is the common belief that its out- ward characteristics were developed in France, and later improved by the English pioneer fanciers. Length of coa,t, head furnishing, and texture or silkiness of coat, are the principal points for which the Peruvian admirer strives. The importance of these three characteristics ma^- be ap- preciated when we consider that fifty-five points out of a possi1)lc hundred are allotted to them in the standard. The THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 21 Peruvian is larger than tlie Englisli or the Al)y.ssinian ; while the head alone is proportionately not so large as in the other varieties. The colors produced in this variety are the same as in the other two. The Peruvian cannot withstand much dampness. l)ecause its coat appears to absorh moisture which endangers its iKN'ilth and consequent exhibition cpiality. It should l)e bred indoors under a normal, dry temperature. Xeither sawdust nor hay should be used for bedding, as botli woik into the hair and cause it to become tangled. Straw, cut in six-inch lengths, makes a good bedding m.aterial. When the hair reaches the length of, say, eight inches, it should be put U]) in "crimpers" such as the women use in their hair, or plaited, to prevent spoiling the coat. The hair may be taken down once a week, ])rushed well, and i)ut up again. While l)reeding:, the coats should l)e clipped as the huig hair not only annoys the breeders and l)(.c > aes matted. l)ut interferes w'ith the various duties they ha\e to perform. Many fanciers of the patient and painstaking t\i)e use h.air tonics and restorers to increase the fineness and silK'- iness of coat, and also feed especially for length of the coat: boiled rice and rice puddings ])eing used in the latter instance. Abyssinian. The A])yssinian, like the I'erux ian, did not derive its name by an\- geographical association and und()ul)ledl\' emanated from the same source as all other ca\ies. It h.as been steadily improved both in harshness of coat and the numl^er of rosettes, which are its principal chara'-- teristics. The more numerous the rosettes the better; as r^anv as fifteen, and rarelv more, having been produced 22 THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. <3 U c o H IHE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 23 on a sins^le cavy. The hair of the x\byssinian should be ])rushed toward the head, and each rosette carefully shaped up with a tooth-brush. The least attention to the coat of this variety will demonstrate the best results, as constant grooming will impair the harshness of the coat. It is well to maintain outdoor hutches for this variety, provided tliey are free from damp and draught, as the cold is con- flucive to the production of harshness in the coat. The Abyssinian yields to color-breeding with equal readiness as the English and Peruvian, and the same rules for improving the quality of the coat and color apply to this variety as have been explained for the other two. vSixty points out of a hundred are de\oted to ro^^^ttes, co'it. and head furnishing, while only 20 points are allowed for size and shape. The attention to coat should, therefore, be paramount. As the quality of the coat is usually obtained through the sow, it is preferable to use only harsh-coated sows as breeders; while the boar should be well covered with rosettes, possessed of good color and size. The "weeding out" process may be begun at the birth of the youngsters, as it is easy to determine when the young are but a few days old which are best in rosettes and color, and the weaklings and mismarked cavies killed. In feeding Abyssinians rice puddings, milk, and meal mashes should be a rarity and only given as conditioners; the principal diet consisting of hay, corn, and a few oats and greens. 24 THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. Exhibiting. Exhibiting is the result of the efforts of the fancier in following the advice of his older brethren; the rules laid down for the housing, breeding, and feeding of his stock; and his own practical experience. It is the zenith of his ambitions and the telltale of his success or failure. Tem- porary misfortune on the show bench should not dis- Cream Abyssinian Cavy. Courlesy T. A. Marlin, Jr., courage the novice, for it may he merely his inalAility to judge his own stock, in making his various matings, or lack of experience in any one of the several departments of cavydom that causes him to be beaten. Success is bound to come to the observing breeder, coupled with common sense methods. The ambitious fancier will visit the shows and acquaint himself, by kindly inquiry of the judges and THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 25 H 00 c CT! -X3 O O < 26 THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. well informed veterans, wherein his sh(3rtcomings are manifest. He will return to his little familj- of quadrupeds and apply the knowledge thus conveyed to him, and when the next season returns, to his utter amazement, the laurels find their way to this patient, persevering lover of industry. His success should not tempt him to over-exhibit or to greedily seek to "corner" all the prizes on his severaj varieties, for after a few shows his stock will succumb to the strain of travel, rough handling, close and foul con- linement. unsystematic feeding, and his season is closed. On the other hand, he should plan his exhibits so that sufficient time elapses between events to allow the show specimens to recuperate so that when their turn again arrives they may be able to meet the jealous pride of some fellow animal. The cautious fancier will provide himself with a good conditioning mixture, and feed only the most appetizing foods at these times, both before and after each show. I'he brush and silk or chamois skin will here demonstrate its usefulness, for the critical eye of the judge manifests his true sport by showing his preference for the well-groomed specimen. Many fanciers even supplement the brush and silk with a good rub with a whisp of hay and later with the hand, which brings the gloss to the surface. In fact there are some who feed small quantities of flax seed meal which renders the hair oily and facilitates the production of the shiny coat. In the case of white cavies, washing a few days before a show might not be amiss. When shipping cavies to distant cities for exhibition purposes, do not use any old store box that may be avail- able. Such boxes are not only irritating to the show at- THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 27 tendants and may subject the cavies to careless treatment as a consequence, hut are su1)ject to improper handling hy railroad employes. A little time and judgment may he well spent in making a case out of light wood, with a compart- ment for each specimen, good ventilation, and carrying handles. Each compartment should have a bountiful supply of hay before shipping, and in addition a carrot or two. and a piece of stale bread. Also see that the exhibits are shipped in good time so that all time and trouble in their rearing and preparation may not be wasted by their late arrival and consequent elimination from competition. 28 THE CAVY.— CUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. Conclusion. I have not mentioned the various standards which are provided by the fancy because they are subject to change, and because the true fancier will keep in constant touch with them by joining one or more of the pet stock asso- ciations. At the present time we have, in this country. three general associations: The American Fur Fanciers' Association, the National Pet Stock Association, and the Pacific Pet Stock Association. The Englishman is accredited with the distinction of elevating the cavy from its wild state to the show bench. and certainly has he, as a pioneer, surpassed all other nationalities in providing, in the development of this little creature, a lucrative pastime for the weary and fatigued business, professional and workingman, and by persistent and painstaking effort maintained his supremacy in the per- fection of exhibition stock. That most of the interest manifested in the fancy in England is due to the activities of Fur and Feather, published in Idle. Bradford, is unques- tioned, for without a leader nothing can withstand the frailty of human resolutions. Its able editor. Mr. C. A. House, was not only one of the pioneer cavy fanciers, brit has made the pet stock fancy his life work; having been a constant admirer of pets during the thirty years which have elapsed since his first exhibit with the National Cavy Club of England, at Pulborough in 1888. America is fast coming to the front, however, and ere long it is hoped that our own results will be felt in the greatest of all shows — The Crystal Palace. Distance and fatiguing travel have been the great barriers, but the ranid strides which have been made during recent years in navi- THE CAVY.— OUR FANCY GUINEA PIG. 29 gation on sea and in air warrant the prediction tliat soon American fanciers will experience less risk in competing with our English brethren. This goal is the height of the American fanciers' ambition, and when it will have been reached there need be no anxiety that America cannot hold its supremacy in the pet stock world as it has in many other sports which it has wrung from the old world. J. Henri Wagfner Importer and Breeder of FANGY RABBITS Eight years of practical experiment with pigeons, rab- bits and cavies in Mendel's theories on the laws of heredity have equipped me for properly breeding pet stock for type, quality of hair, station and those other elements which con- stitute the real exhibition and utility animal. My founda- tion stock was imported from England's best strains, which, by proper line breeding has produced a strain of wonderful winning quality. English, Anpra, Beigian and Dutch a Specialty Usually a few youngsters on hand for sale at prices con- sistent with careful breeding. REMEMBER, I kill all culls at birth, using the strength of the mother only to rear healthy and vigorous animals. 1909 N. Capitol St. WASHINGTON, D. C. THE ENGLISH JOURNAL FOR LOVERS OF RABBITS, GATS AND CAVIES IS '*Fur and Feather" On its staff are all the best and most experienced breeders and judges in England, It gives the most instructive articles, the brightest and most up-to-date news, and the most reHable advice. Yearly Subscription, U.S. A., $2.50 OFFICES; IDLE, BRADFORD, ENGLAND THE/ PET8T0GK Devoted to the Rabbit, Cavy, Ban- tz:m. Mouse, Rat, Cat, Pigeon, Gold End Tropical Fish, etc. Prints more Pet Stock News than any other publication in America. Single copies, lOc- Yearly, 50c. Order of any Pet Stock Dealer or Newsdealer or from us. PET STOCK WORLD CO., Baltimore, . - - . M.'. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 002 834 321 8