THE CHINCHILLA 239 



but its habitat includes practically the whole of the United 

 States. Indians call it the Cawquaw. Though it lacks a 

 prehensile tail, it is an adept at climbing, stripping trees 

 quite bare of the leaves, especially hemlocks, of which it is 

 particularly fond. The animal does not hibernate, but in 

 winter lives upon the bark of young trees. A single Porcu- 

 pine will thus be responsible for the destruction of hundreds 

 of trees between autumn and spring. 



The Urson is the creature which furnishes the quills with 

 which the Indian squaws embroider moccasins, leggings, 

 pouches, and other objects of use or ornament. 



Porcupine quills for use as penholders, fishing-floats, &c., 

 are chiefly the product of the European species, and as the 

 animal is by no means common, the quills are expensive. 



FAMILY CHINCHILLID.E (CHINCHILLAS). 



CHINCHILLA (Chinchilla lanigera). 



Coloured Plate XIII. Fig. 2. 



The Chinchilla is only about ten inches in length, 

 exclusive of its tufted tail, which is four or five inches 

 long. It is an elegant, active little creature, with its hind 

 legs longer than the anterior pair. It was at one time 

 classed with the jerboas. In size and general form it is 

 not unlike a rabbit, with a squirrel's tail. It inhabits the 

 Andes of South America at considerable elevations, as do 

 the marmots in the Alps. 



Chinchillas live in large companies in burrows, where 

 they appear to breed all the year round, which helps the 

 creatures to keep pace with the demand for their skins. 

 The fur is thick and exceedingly soft, of a delicate grey 

 on the back and greyish-white beneath. It is much 

 admired when made into muffs, boas, cloak-linings and 

 other wear for ladies. Like all animals whose coats are 

 of very fine texture, the Chinchilla is a particularly 

 clean creature. Its agility is remarkable, and it darts up 

 and down precipitous walls of rock with the utmost 

 rapidity. The natives in hunting the little creature call 



