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Guinea Pig, or Cavy. A small animal belonging to the family of rodents. It is indigenous to South America, and has been introduced into many parts of Europe and America, where it is domesticated as a pet. It possesses a very low degree of intelligence; in its natural home it is gregarious, and is usually found living on dry lands covered with low brushwood. The color of the guinea pig is variegated, and its tail is quite rudimentary. It is an extremely prolific animal, and begins to breed at the age of ten months, producing many broods a year; each litter usually consists of about eight. The origin of the popular name of this animal is quite unknown; it appears to be very inappropriate, for the animal does not come from Guinea, nor yet is it a pig.