THE CHINCHILLA FAMILY. 285 



The fur of the Chinchilla was prized by the ancient 

 Peruvians, who made coverings and other articles out of it. 

 It has always been in favor, but at present the price is so 

 high for fine skins, and even those of inferior grades, that 

 Chinchilla furs are not seen as much as they were a quarter 

 of a century ago when "Bastard" Chinchillas sold for 

 from ten dollars to twenty dollars per dozen ; and the finest 

 of "real" Chinchillas, as the (Chinchilla-brevicaudata) 

 were called, could be bought for thirteen dollars each ; and 

 three dollars was a high price for a fair "Chinchillone." 

 Now the prices are fifty to eighty dollars and upwards per 

 dozen for the "Bastards," seven to fifteen dollars each for 

 Chinchillones, and from fifty dollars upwards for real Chin- 

 chillas, extra fine skins bringing as high as one hundred and 

 fifty dollars each. This makes the fur of the Chinchilla, 

 when the size of its working surface is considered, as 

 expensive as that of the Russian Sable, with which it 

 cannot compare in durability. The leather is too light to be 

 worked into fitted coats, but for loose wraps, neck pieces, 

 muffs and trimming, Chinchilla can be used to advantage, 

 and makes up beautifully. 



CHINCHILLA 



The Viscacha (Largostomus-trichodactylus) bears the 

 same relation to the Chinchilla that the Marmot does to 

 the Squirrel. It is a stout animal about two feet long 

 with a ten inch bushy tufted tail. Its burrows dot the 

 grounds of the pampas of Argentina, where these ani- 

 mals live in villages of about fifteen burrows, each con- 

 taining about twenty members. In color the Viscacha is 

 grey on the back, mottled with darker shades, and a 

 yellowish white on the under parts. It has strong gnaw- 

 ing teeth and lives on roots. 



