268 CHINCHILLA, VISCACHA. FAMILY LEPORID^E. 



especially those of a bulbous kind. In captivity, its manners 

 strongly resemble those of the Cavy and Rabbit. The Viscacha 

 of the Pampas is another animal of this family, allied to the 

 Chinchilla, but larger, being when full grown of the size of the 

 common Badger. It burrows so extensively in the plains between 

 Buenos Ayres and San Luis, as to make it dangerous to travel 

 over them, especially at night ; their holes being so large and 

 deep^ that a horse is almost sure to fall, if he steps into one 

 of them. The animal is, for the most part, nocturnal in its 

 habits, being seldom seen until the evening, when it comes forth to 

 feed and to sport near its holes. It is remarkable that the burrows 

 of the Viscacha are also inhabited by vast numbers of small 

 Owls; which are said to sit, during the day, gazing at the 

 passing travellers, and making a very ludicrous appearance. 



236. The LEPORID.E or Hare tribe constitutes the last family 

 of the Rodentia ; distinguished, as already mentioned, by the 

 presence of two small incisors behind the cutting teeth of the 

 upper jaw. Few undomesticated animals are better known than 

 the common Hare of this country ; which is spread, also, over 

 the greater portion of Europe. Its timidity and defencelessness 

 are beautifully compensated by its watchfulness, the acuteness of 

 its senses, and its swiftness of foot. Its eyes are so situated, 

 that the animal can see nearly all around it ; and its large ears 

 can be raised and directed towards any point from which the 

 faintest sound issues. Its brown fur, also, aids to conceal it, 

 by its resemblance to the russet herbage, in the midst of which 

 the Harems form (as the slight hollow made by it is termed) is 

 usually situated. The Hare is an exclusively vegetable-feeder, 

 devouring various kinds of herbage and the bark of young 

 trees ; it is nocturnal in its habits, remaining on its form during 

 the day. In its stomach there is a partial division, which gives 

 it a degree of resemblance to that of the Ruminant Quadrupeds; 

 and in the Levitical directions respecting clean and unclean 

 animals, it is enumerated as one of those that chew the cud. It 

 swims well, and takes fearlessly to the water, whether to escape 

 from pursuit, or to seek for food. Besides the common Hare, 

 the Alpine or varying Hare (so named from its usual residence, 



