THE HOMES OF THE VIZCACHAS 109 



feet of ground, and are so numerous in Patagonia that 

 you can hardly ride half a mile without coming on one 

 at any rate. The villages go on in the same place for 

 generations, except that every now and then, when the 

 dwelling is getting uncomfortably crowded, a vizcacha of 

 unusual energy will look out for a suitable spot fifty or 

 sixty yards from his old home, and form a new burrow ; 

 his lazy companions, however, taking care not to join him 

 till all is ready, when they drop in by accident one by 

 one. 



When once the vizcachera is built, in nice soft ground, 

 and its park (about half an acre in extent) of smoothly 

 cropped grass is properly laid out, the vizcachas show 

 themselves to be people of regular habits. 



In winter it is their custom to stay in their burrows 

 till dark, but in summer they come out before sunset, to 

 take advantage of the evening air. First one of the 

 elders will appear and sit quietly on the mound, and then, 

 gradually, the doorways are filled with loungers, the 

 males standing upright, and the females, smaller and 

 livelier and lighter than their masters, sitting on their 

 haunches. Like their two-legged sisters, they become 

 eagerly curious at the sight of any passer-by, and 

 make strange noises. If he approaches, they dash 

 quickly into their burrows ; but often their sharp eyes 

 and little noses may be seen peering round the corner, 

 longing for another look. 



All vizcachas are very careful about their fur, and 

 spend much time combing it out smooth with their 

 paws. They are very sociable, but do not consider it 

 good manners to enter each other's houses ; visits 

 are paid at the entrance, and even when pursued, a 

 vizcacha will hardly ever seek refuge across his neigh- 

 bour's threshold. They have no idea of self-control, 

 and any sudden noise occurring when they are feeding 

 gives rise to a perfect babel of cries and screams. A 

 vizcacha has a great variety of notes, and can make 



