448 THE MAMMALS 



Other Rodents. Porcupines have developed long, stiff, sharp-pointed 

 hairs which have special muscles which can make them stand erect. Al- 

 though they cannot throw their quills, as is sometimes believed, there is 

 a special mechanism to release the quills when they become stuck into 

 another animal, and many a coon dog has come away from an attack on 

 a porcupine with quills embedded in his nose and mouth. The guinea 

 pig is another very well known rodent. The chinchilla is a beautiful 

 little rodent with very fine and soft fur. Chinchillas have been imported 

 into the United States from the mountains of Chile and Bolivia where 

 they have been all but exterminated by trappers. Hundreds of chin- 



Photo by Winchester 



Fig. 28.24. A chinchilla. These rodents have a very fine and soft fur and are raised 



extensively for their fur. 



chilla ranches have been started in the last few years with breeding 

 pairs often selling at prices ranging from $1,000 to $1,500. As yet the 

 population has not reached a point where the chinchillas can be killed 

 extensively for their pelts. When this point is reached they will prob- 

 ably be used widely for fur capes and trimmings. The fur is delicate 

 and may not prove practical for entire coats. Without doubt they will 

 be much cheaper as their numbers increase, because they are relatively 

 easy to raise and inexpensive to keep. 



Order — Lagomorpha 



This order includes the rabbits. They were formerly placed in the 

 order Rodcntia, but recent studies indicate that they have certain distinc- 

 tive characteristics which warrant their inclusion in a separate order. They 



