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CHINCHILLA. 



Chinchilla hrcricaudata. 

 French : Chinchille. German : Chinchilla. 



This beautiful creature, so well known on account of 

 its soft fine fur, is an inhabitant of Peru and Bolivia, 

 the best skins coming from the mountainous districts 

 near Arica. During the late war between Chili and 

 Peru but few skins were imported. The usual quantity 

 sent to this country ranges from 5,000 to 80,000, and 

 the price varies from 6s. to 240s. per dozen for large 

 skins, according to demand, the general value being 898. 

 Middling-sized and small skins are cheaper. 



Chinchilla fur is justly apjjreciated, being the finest 

 and most delicate of all furs. The skin is thin and light, 

 and the fur is about two-thirds of an inch in length. 

 These skins are used in England, France, and America, 

 and a few also in Canada, Australia, and Italy. 



The Chinchilla, like most of the Eodents, lives on 

 vegetable matter. It is about 9 inches long, and the 

 tail from 5 to 6 inches. The ears are rather large, 

 broad, silky, and almost devoid of hair. The whiskers 

 are from 2 to 3 inches long, and bristly, some being 

 white and some black. The general colour of the fur is 

 grey, and varies from light slatish-white to dark blue 

 along the back ; the belly is lighter ; and the ground- 

 colour of the fur is blue. The tail is covered with long, 

 bristly, coarse, grey hairs, which are thicker towards the 

 tip. The female has two teats. 



White varieties are rarely found, and drab are 

 extremely rare. 



