St. Tammany farmer., 1901-08-03
RAISING QUEER STOCK.
Illinois Woman Engages in Bre eediA4
CAVES for Domestic A
Pets


An enterprising woman out in
Woodstock, ILL.,, has demonstrated
what one of her sex can do as a
breeder of pet stock. She has been
but three years in the business, and
her success has been phenomenal,
says the Chicago Tribune.
1t was she who introduced novel
ty in domestic pets called the cavy.
This curious little creature has long
been favorite in England, but in
America was, until few years ago,
practically unknown. She imported
some fine specimens and began breed
ing them. This woman ships her
stock north, south, east and west and
has become widely known as an au-
thority on CAVES. She has also writ
ten great deal about the habits and
the methods of caring for these lit
tie animals.
Most readers will ask "What is a
cavy?" He is sort of second cousin
to the guinea pig, and his sole mis-
sion in life is that of pet. Utility is
not one of his attributes; he cannot
catch the nimble mouse ike the fam
lily cat nor guard the household like
a faithful Towser. He is, however,
quite as useful as the fashiona bic
toy dog, whose beauty lis his only
recommenda ton.
The cavy is fast growing in popu-
larity, and is preferred by many
women to the frolicsome kitten. AS
a childs companion he; stands un-
rivaled, from the fact t;lat he bears
neglect with equanimity and is easier
to rear than a blooded dog or cat.
The finer kinds are exquisite little
playthings. There are several dis
tinct varieties; the English, which
are the best known, may be classed
among the smooth coated animals;
their hair is short and glossy, and is
easily kept clean. They come in sew
eral color combinations, among
which black and white and red and
white are the most usual. The tri-
colored, or tortoise she'll, cavy in
red, white and black Isl much in de-
mand. To be correct, the color
should be laid on in distinct patches
and not mottled. The self-colored
species in iustrous black or red are
extremely attractive; the white ones
are more common.
The Peruvian breed is so different
from the English that. one would
scarcely recognize it as belonging to
the same family. They have coat
as sleek and fine as spun silk, and
their abundant names trail upon the
ground and fall in a fluffy fringe over
their heads and faces In fact, the
Peruvian cavy reminds one of an ex-
tremely diminutive Yorkshire terrier,
and is quite as pretty: Mixed color
ings are the rule; white is the only
solid color, and the pure white ones
have lovely rose pink eyes and deli
cate pink paws; they are, in fact, the
albinos of the race.
The Abyssinian cavy is strange
looking little beast by: treason of the
curious growth of his hair, which is
distributed in distinct punches or ro-
settes over his diminutive body; it is
as rough and wiry as that of Scotch
terrier, and is white, red or in broken
coloring.
The Angora is different again, and is
distinguished from thu Peruvian by
its long straight hair and clean head
free of furnishings.
The long-haired cavy has curious
way of curling himself up when he
goes to sleep, looking for all the world
like ball of floss silk. He is, how
ever, instinct with life when awake.
The cavy is not exa;cting as to his
bed and board; he Isl quite content
with box-on the lawn, or a lodging
in the barn, and will nibble such
kitchen refuse as the parings of
vegetables and fruit; be will also eat
milk and bread; he is inordinately
fond Of bananas and apples, which
may be given him casionally as des-
sert.
The cavy cuts number of amusing
antics, and is a never failing source
of amusement in household where
there are children; he expresses his
by twittering like ca
nary or whistling like a mocking bird.
Dealers declare that: there is fast
growing demand for these cunning
little creatures, which have fast come
into fashion.