The Chinchilla. 105 



THE CHINCHILLA. (Chinchilla lanigera.) 

 THE CHINCHILLA is a native of America, and its coat pro- 

 duces the beautiful fur known by its name. The length 

 of the body of this little animal is about nine inches, 

 and its tail nearly five ; its limbs are comparatively 

 short, the hind legs being much the longest. The fur 

 is of a remarkably close and fine texture, somewhat 

 crisped, and entangled together; of a grayish or ash 

 colour above, and paler beneath. It is used for muffs, 

 tippets, and linings of cloaks, and is perhaps prettier 

 than the Sable, although less durable, and less valuable 

 in commerce, excepting when fashion rules. The form 

 of the head resembles that of the rabbit ; the eyes are 

 full, large, and black ; and the ears broad, naked, round 

 at the tips, and nearly as long as the head. The 

 whiskers are plentiful and strong, the longest being 

 twice as long as the head, some of them black, others 

 white. Four short toes, with an appearance of a thumb, 

 terminate the fore feet ; the hinder have the same num- 

 ber of toes, but have less the appearance of hands : on 

 all the claws are short, and nearly hidden by tufts of 

 bristly hairs. The tail is about half the length of the 

 body, of equal thickness throughout, and covered with 

 long bushy hairs. It resembles in some degree the jer- 

 boa, and takes its food, like that animal, in its fore paws, 

 sitting on its haunches. The temper of the Chinchilla is 

 mild and tractable. It dwells in burrows under ground, 

 and produces young twice a year, bringing forth five or 

 six at a time. It feeds upon the roots of bulbous plants. 



