THE CHINCHILLA. 



VIS 



with that of the rabbit or guinea-pig : hence it displays 

 no indications of" attachment to those who feed it, nor 

 much animation or playfulness. In its alpine valleys it 

 associates in numbers, excavating burrows, in which it 

 resides. The female breeds twice a year, producing 

 from four to six young at a birth. Various roots, espe- 

 cially those of bulbous plants, constitute the diet of the 

 chinchilla. The colour of the fur of this species is clear 

 gray above, but varying in depth, and passing into white 

 on the under parts : its quality is exquisitely fine, and 

 its length renders it well adapted for spinning. Indeed, 

 Molina informs us that "the ancient Peruvians, who 

 were far more industrious than the modern, made of this 



79.— Skull of Chinchilla. 



wool coverlets for beds, and valuable stuff's. " Tlie tail 

 is covered with long bushy hairs, and usually kept 

 turned up towards the back. In length the chinchilla 

 measures about nine inches, exclusive of the tail, which 

 is five inches. The fore-limbs are comparatively short : 

 the head has much resemblance to that of a young, full- 

 haired rabbit ; the muzzle is short and blunt, and fur- 

 nished with long whiskers ; the eyes are black ; the ears 

 are ample. The skull is remarkable for the size of the 

 antorbital foramen and the amplitude of the tympanic 

 bulla. The general skeleton is slightly built, and the 

 bones are slender ; the ribs are thirteen on each side. 

 Fig. 78 represents the skeleton of the Chinchilla 



