THE CHINCHILLA. 



121 



77.— Chinchilla. 



occasioned a very considerable destruction of the animals." 

 From this passage it would appear that there are two or 

 more species of" chinchilla, respectively Chilian and Pe- 

 ruvian, and hence we suspect is to be accounted for the 

 difference in the colour and quality of the chinchilla fur 

 which we have frequently observed. Our examination 

 of specimens in the Paris Museum also leads us to the 

 same conclusion. (Figs. 76 and 77.) 



A native of the valleys in the high mountain districts 

 of South America, where the cold is often very severe, 

 the deep woolly coat of the chinchilla is well calculated 

 for preserving warmth. Whether in the winter season 

 the animal hybernates or not yet remains to be discovered. 

 Of its manners, indeed, we know little. In captivity it 

 is quiet, inoffensive, and cleanly : it feeds sitting up on 

 its haunches like a squirrel, holding its food between its 

 fore-paws. Its ratio of intelligence is on the same par 



