Some interesting background info for guinea pig fans, this text was written over two hundred years ago...
The Restless Cavy or Guinea Pig inhabits Brasil: there is no mention made by writers of its manners in a wild state. It is domesticated in Europe.
The Guinea Pig is a restless, grunting, little animal; perpetually running from corner to corner. The Guinea Pig feeds on bread, grains and vegetables.
Has from four to twelve young every two months, so that they would be innumerable, but numbers of the young are killed by cats: others by the males: they are likewise very tender, multitudes of the young anf old perishing with cold. Rats are said to avoid their haunts.
