1344 



THE RODENTS 



tail gradually becomes bushy toward the tip; its fur being a mixture of grayish 

 white and grayish black, becoming darker toward the tip on the upper surface. 



, This (Lagidium cuvieri] is considerably larger than either of the 



Chinchilla preceding, the length of the head and body varying from about six- 

 teen to twenty inches, and that of the tail, exclusive of the hair at the 

 tip from eleven to twelve inches; and since it differs by having only four toes on 

 each foot, it is considered to represent a distinct genus. The ears, moreover, are 

 longer and more pointed; while in the skull the bullse of the internal ear are rela- 

 tively smaller. The general hue of the long and soft fur is ashy gray, tinged with 



CUVIER'S CHINCHILLA. 

 (One-fourth natural size.) 



yellow and penciled with black; while on the under parts it is pale yellow, gradually 

 becoming deeper in 'hue on the flanks. The feet are gray; while the tail is black 

 below, with very long hairs above, some of which are also of the same jetty tint. 

 One of the most remarkable features about the animal is the length of the black 

 whiskers, in which some of the hairs may measure seven inches. This species is 

 also an inhabitant of the higher Andes of Chili, Peru, and Bolivia, ranging to eleva- 

 tions of some sixteen thousand feet above the sea level. In habits these animals 

 seem to be almost identical with the true chinchillas, dwelling in barren rocky dis- 



