314 GUINEA WORM GUISCARD restless cavy is generally believed to be the animal from which the domestic Guinea pig (C. eobaya) originated; but Mr. Waterhouse thinks it more probable that a pretty variety, such as may occur in all wild animals, attract- ed the attention of Europeans, who captured and domesticated it for its harmless disposition as well as its beauty, and by care perpetuated the race of the common Guinea pig. The ani- mal is known by its black, white, and fulvous patches, irregularly distributed, and its short, close, and shining hair. It is exceedingly gen- tle in disposition, never attempting to defend itself by teeth or nails, simply making very slight efforts to escape, and uttering a sharp cry. Its remarkable fecundity alone preserves it from extinction ; it is capable of fecundation at the age of six or eight weeks, and brings forth after three weeks' gestation from four to twelve at a birth, according to the age of the mother, who reaches her full development in nine months; lactation lasts about 15 days, and the female is ready for another fecundation; Guinea Pig (Cavia cobaya). a. Teeth. 6. Skull the young are born covered with fur, and with the eyes open. They are very sensitive to cold and damp ; the flesh is not eaten, and the skin is useless, the only reasons for keeping them being their gentleness and beauty ; there is a popular belief that their odor drives away rats. Their food is entirely vegetable, and they drink but seldom and by lapping ; they will eat the usual green food of rabbits, but prefer parsley and carrot tops to the bread, milk, and meal upon which they are generally fed ; they are fond of apples and other fruits, and remarkably so of tea leaves. Though cleanly in their habits, they have a disagree- able odor; like hares, they sleep with their eyes half open. Scarcely any two animals can be found with the same markings ; the dark tortoise-shell ones are the most highly prized. U INEA WORM. See ENTOZOA, genus fila- rta, vol. vi., p. 670. GUlPflZCOA, one of the Basque provinces of Spain, bordering on the bay of Biscay, France, and the provinces of Navarre, Alava, and Bis- cay; area, 728 sq. m.; pop. in 1870, 180,748. The coast is indented with numerous harbors. The principal rivers, all of which are small, are the Deva, Urola, Oria, and Bidassoa. The surface is an alternation of mountain, hill, and valley, and the scenery is highly romantic and picturesque. The climate is humid, mild, agreeable, and healthful. From the mountain- ous nature of the country, however, agricul- ture is prosecuted with difficulty. The chief minerals are iron, argentiferous lead, copper, marble, and gypsum. The province is traversed by a railway which passes through Tolosa. The principal manufactures are of iron. The inhabitants are honest, industrious, and brave. (See BASQUES.) The chief towns are St. Se- bastian, the capital, Irun, Tolosa, and Fuenter- rabia. The Pheasants 1 island in the Bidassoa is celebrated as the place where the peace of the Pyrenees was concluded in 1659 between France and Spain. GUISCARD, Robert, the founder of the kingdom of Naples, born about 1015, died July 17, 1085. His father, Tancred de Hauteville, a petty Nor- man baron, had twelve sons, of whom Robert was the sixth. As the paternal estate was in- sufficient to support so large a family, the three eldest sons went to Italy, where they secured rich possessions in the Norman colony of Apu- lia, of which they eventually became the lead- ing nobles. Attracted by their success, the younger brothers also went to Italy, and Rob- ert, who was surnamed Guiscard, the prudent or adroit, showed so much valor and address that on the death of his brother Humphrey in 1057 he was proclaimed count of Apulia, to the exclusion of the young son of the latter. He soon after overran Calabria, and received from Pope Nicholas II. the title of duke of both provinces, with the additional grant of whatever portions of Italy or Sicily he could wrest from the Greek schismatics or the Sara- cens. With the aid of his younger brother Roger he conquered Sicily, and ejected the Saracens from their remaining possessions in southern Italy. The kingdom of Naples had its origin in these conquests. Robert, having subsequently undertaken to annex the duchy of Benevento to his dominions, was brought into collision with Pope Gregory VII., who claimed the territory as a grant from the em- peror of Germany. The pope excommunica- ted him, but a reconciliation was soon effected. In 1081, under the pretext of sustaining the rights of Constantine, son of the dethroned emperor Michael VII., who had married his daughter, he invaded Epirus and other prov- inces of the Byzantine empire, and after a series of victories was in full march for Con- stantinople, when he was recalled to Italy to relieve the pope, who was besieged by the em- peror Henry IV. in the castle of Sant' Angelo. At Guiscard's approach Henry drew off his forces; but the populace having refused to re- ceive the Normans, Rome was sacked by them, and a large portion of it burned. The pope, fearing to remain in the city, followed his
