CAPTURE OF ANIMALS. 71 



THE CHINCHILLA. 



The most delicate and silken of all furs is that produced by 

 the Chinchilla. This animal is found in South America, along 

 the Andean region from Chili to Peru. It burrows in the 

 valleys which intersect the hilly slopes, and collects together in 

 great numbers in certain favored localities. It belongs to the 

 group of animals called Jerboidce, which are characterized by 

 great comparative length of the hind legs. It is a small 

 animal, measuring only about fourteen or fifteen inches in 

 total length, of which the tail forms about one third. They 

 are very prolific, the female bringing forth five or six twice a 

 year. Their food is exclusively vegetable, consisting mostly 

 of bulbous roots. They are very cleanly in all their habits. 

 The fur of the Chinchilla is long ; its color is a delicate clear 

 gray upon the back, softening into a grayish white on the 

 under portions ; and its texture is wonderfully soft and fine. 

 It is used for muffs, tippets, linings to cloaks and pelisses, and 

 trimmings. The skins which are obtained in Chili are the 

 best. Great numbers of Chinchillas are caught in the vicinity 

 of Coquimbo and Copiapo. They are usually hunted with 

 dogs by boys. The true method is to take them at the mouth 

 of their burrows with a small steel rat-trap. 



THE SQUIRREL. 



The American varieties of the Squirrel do not produce fur 

 of much value, and are of little importance in the fur-trade. 

 They are generally taken only for food or as nuisances. The 

 European variety, however, is much more valuable, and its 

 skins are brought into the fur-markets of Europe by the mill- 

 ion. They are spread over all the north of Europe and Asia. 

 Those of Russia and Siberia produce the finest and hand- 

 somest fur. This kind is a small Squirrel with tufted ears 

 and a beautiful gray coat. 



For taking Squirrels, the trap should be set on the top rail 

 of a fence near a wood that they frequent. A pole, with an 

 ear of corn or some other favorite squirrel-food fastened to 

 the end of it, should be set up by the side of the fence, lean- 



