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Show n. n.i.e. iig Tha guinea pig Is an absurd little suihnal for u number of reasons, and one of the most remarkable absurdities about him Is his name He Is not a pig of any kind, nor any nlatluu to tho pig, and ho has nothing to do with flutucn. Ho Is a kind of rat, and his natlvo homo Is Honth America. Why ho shoull hato been called a "pig" no ouo knows, unlisa It waa on account of tho slight grunting noise that ho makes; an 1 tho word "guinea ' In his toso may bo a eomiplluii of (lulana, where tlio animal has sorao-thnes sorao-thnes liecu found, though It was lint brought from IlrazIL His real nauie Is tl 0 "cavy," and by that ho should In calleiL In till wll 1 stato he Is quite dlffen ully colored from the domesticated animal, mil lacks tho allotting ot white, block arid tawny color wbk.li tho tamed cavy often has. It used to bo commonly supjiosed that tho guinea pig droto away onlln ary rats, or rather caused tin 111 to go away 011 account of tlnlr extreme ills-Ilka ills-Ilka of him, but evin this uigatlts merit is dcnleil to tho poor llltlo onl inol o one, however, Is able to sic 117 his RintloiiMaiuidsuhiulsiilriiiesa. 1:1 chnngo. |
