CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 7 RODENTIA 



411 



There is a single species, the C. lanir/era, which produces the well-known chinchilla fur. This is 

 described by Molina, as follows : 



" The chinchilla is another species of field-rat, in great estimation for the extreme fineness of 

 its wool, if a rich fur as delicate as the silken webs of the garden-spiders may be so termed. It 

 is of an ash-gray, and sufficiently long for spinning. The little animal which produces it is six 

 inches long from the nose to the root of the tail, with small pointed ears, a short muzzle teeth 

 like the house-rat, and a tail of moderate length, clothed with a delicate fur. It lives in burrows 



CHINCHILLAS. 



underground, in the open country of the northern provinces of Chili, and is very fond of being 

 in company with others of its species. It feeds upon the roots of various bulbous plants which 

 grow abundantly in those parts; and produces twice a year five or six young ones. It is so 

 docile and mild in temper that, if taken into the hands, it neither bites nor tries to escape, but 

 seems to take a pleasure in being caressed. If placed in the bosom, it remains there as still and 

 quiet as if it were in its own nest. This extraordinary placidity may possibly be rather due to 

 its pusillanimity, which renders it extremely timid. As it is in itself peculiarly cleanly, there 

 can be no fear of its soiling the clothes of those who handle it, or of its communicating any bad 

 smell to them, for it is entirely free from that ill odor which characterizes the other species of 

 rats. For this reason it might well be kept in the house with no annoyance, and at a trifling 

 expense, which would be abundantly repaid by the profits on its wool. The ancient Peruvians, 

 who were far more industrious than the modern, made of this wool coverlets for beds and valu- 

 able stuffs. There is found in the same northern provinces another little animal with fine wool, 

 called the Hardilla, which is variously described by those who have seen it; but as I have never 

 observed it myself, I cannot determine to what genus it belongs." 



Bennett expresses the opinion that the Hardilla is the same as the chinchilla. In describing a 

 specimen of the latter in the London Zoological Gardens, he says, " that it usually sits upon its 

 haunches, and is even able to raise itself up and stand upon its hinder feet. It feeds in a sitting 

 posture, grasping its food and conveying it to its mouth by means of its fore-paws. In its temper 

 it is generally mild and tractable, but it will not always suffer itself to be handled without re- 

 sistance, and sometimes bites the hand which attempts to fondle it when not. in a humor to be 

 , played with. Although a native of the alpine valleys of Chili, and consequently subjected in its 

 own country to the effects of a low temperature of the atmosphere, against which its thick coat 

 affords an admirable protection, it was thought necessary to keep it during the winter in a mod- 

 erately warm room, and a piece of flannel was even introduced into its sleeping apartment for its 

 ; greater comfort. But this indulgence was most pertinaciously rejected, and as often as the flan- 



