PERUVIAN BIZCACHA AND CHINCHILLA. 727 



from which they seldom wander far, gravely contemplating 

 the passer-by. When scampering out of danger, their elevated 

 tails and short fore-legs give them the appearance of large 

 rats. 



They have a curious habit of dragging every hard object 

 they find to the mouth of their burrows ; round which bones of 

 animals, stones, and hard lumps of earth, are found, collected 

 in large irregular heaps. Although, no doubt, some good reason 

 exists for this habit, it is difficult to account for it. A gentle- 

 man told Mr. Darwin, that having dropped his watch one dark 

 night, he was unable to find it ; but returning the following 

 morning, and searching the neighbourhood of every bizcacha 

 burrow along the line of road, he at length discovered it among 

 a heap of rubbish. 



THE PERUVIAN BI7ICACHA AND CHINCHILLA. 



Another little rodent, very similar to the bizcacha of the 

 Pampas, lives high up on the mountain, often at an elevation 

 of 12,000 feet. It resembles the rabbit, but its ears are 

 shorter, and its tail is long and rough. 



Nearly related to it, and inhabiting the same region, is the 

 chinchilla a pretty little creature, rather larger than a squirrel, 

 with great brilliant eyes, an erect tail, strong bristles on the 

 upper lip, and rounded, almost naked ears. Its beautifully 

 soft fur is much valued by ladies in Europe. It covers in 

 certain districts the slopes of the Andes with its burrows, 

 which trip up many an unwary horseman greatly to its sur- 

 prise and alarm, as its only object in forming them is to have 

 a quiet home of its own, where it can bring up its young, and 

 enjoy the roots which it collects, and on which it feeds at its 

 leisure. 



