CHINCHILLAS AND VISCACHAS 



1345 



tricts, and exhibiting the same marvelous activity. Their food is composed of 

 grass, roots, and moss, to procure which they have frequently to travel long dis- 

 tances from their homes. Their principal enemies are the condor, and the dogs of 

 the shepherds. They are captured by the Indians in snares for the sake of their 

 fur, which is, however, far less valuable than that of the chinchilla. 



The third generic modification of the present family, which is repre- 

 sented only by the viscacha (Lagostomus trichodactyhis} , differs from 

 its cousins in being an inhabitant of the open pampas, ranging from the Rio Negro 

 to the Uruguay river, instead of the heights of the Andes. These animals are pri- 

 marily distinguished from the last by the toes of the hind-feet being reduced to 

 three in number; while the claws on these feet, and to a less degree those of the 



Viscacha 



THE VISCACHA. 

 (One-fifth natural size.) 



fore-feet also, are relatively longer. The cheek-teeth, with the exception of the 

 last in the upper jaw, are also distinguished by having only two transverse plates of 

 enamel, and their squarer form. 



In its stoutly-built body and sturdy limbs the viscacha, as remarked by the late 

 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse, presents a contrast to the delicately-formed chinchillas 

 exactly similar to that existing between the squirrels and the marmots; this differ- 

 ence in form being accompanied by a precisely similar difference in habits, the 

 viscachas being purely burrowing Rodents. 



In the viscacha the length of the head and body varies from some nineteen to 

 twenty-three inches; that of the tail being about a third as much again. The ears 

 are rather small, and distinctly notched behind; the tail is bushy throughout the 

 greater part of its length, and the fur is rather short. The coloring of the fur is 



III S? 



