THE CHINCHILLA. 719 



Andes from the boundary of Ecuador and Peru to Southern Chili, and 

 over the pampas to the Rio Negro and the Uruguay. It comprises 

 three genera. 



GENUS CHINCHILLA. 



The genus is usually divided into tivo species, according to the differ- 

 ence of their fur. They are " rabbits with long tails," a link, in fact, 

 between the rabbit and the mouse. Their color is a light gray, with 

 white and dark brown markings. They are found in the Andes of Peru 

 and Chili, south of nine degrees S. lat. ; at about eight thousand to 

 twelve thousand feet above the sea level. 



The Chinchilla, Chinchilla lanig-ir [Plate LVIII), lives chiefly among 

 the higher mountainous districts, where its thick silken fur is of infinite 

 service in protecting it from the cold. It is a burrowing animal, band- 

 ing together in great numbers in certain favored localities. The food of 

 the Chinchilla is exclusively of a vegetable nature, and consists chiefly of 

 various bulbous roots, which it disinters by means of its powerful fosso- 

 rial paws. While feeding, it sits upon its hinder-feet, and conveys the 

 food to its mouth with its fore-feet, which it uses with singular adroit- 

 ness. It is an exceedingly cleanly animal, as might be supposed from 

 the beautiful delicacy of its fur. 



As far as is known, the Chinchilla is not a very intelligent animal, 

 seeming to be hardly superior to the guinea-pig in intellect, and appear- 

 ing scarcely to recognize even the hand that supplies it with food. They 

 are of a gentle nature and easily tamed, and the Chilenos are fond of 

 keeping them in their houses. 



GENUS LAGIDIUM. 



The members of this genus have longer ears, and more bushy tail 

 than those of the preceding genus. As yet only three species are known, 

 and they inhabit the loftiest plateaus of the Cordilleras from eleven 

 thousand to sixteen thousand feet. They have four toes, while the Chin- 

 chillas have only four on their hind-feet. 



The Alpine Viscacha, Lagidiiim Ciivieri, has a thick snout, long hind- 

 legs, and a long tail. The fur is very soft and long, and of an ash-gray 

 color which, on the sides, approaches to yellow. The upper surface of 

 the tail is covered with long hair of a brownish-black color. The whis- 

 kers are remarkably long, and reach to the shoulders. 



