THE LAG OTIS. 



485 



feeding, it sits upon its hinder feet, and conveys the food to its mouth with its fore-feet, which 

 it uses with singular adroitness. It is a most exquisitely cleanly animal, as might be sup- 

 posed from the beautiful delicacy of its fur, for we may always remark, that whenever an ani- 

 mal is remarkable for the coloring or the texture of its natural robes, it is always most assidu- 

 ous in preserving them from any substance that might stain their purity or clog their fibres. 



The fur of the Chinchilla is of a delicate, clear gray upon the back, softening into a gray- 

 ish-white on the under portions, and its texture is marvellously soft and fine. As the fur 

 seems to be of two different qualities in 

 animals that are brought from different 

 parts of South America, it is supposed 

 that there may be either two distinct spe- 

 cies of this animal, or at least two perma- 

 nent varieties, the hair of one being very 

 much more delicate than that of the other. 

 Besides being dressed and employed as a 

 fur, the hair of the Chinchilla is so long 

 and soft that it is well adapted for the 

 loom, and has been manufactured into vari- 

 ous fabrics where warmth and lightness 

 are equally required. 



As the animal is very small, only 

 measuring fourteen or fifteen inches in 

 total length, the tail occupying nearly 

 one-third of the measurement, many skins 

 are employed in the manufacture of one 

 article of ordinary dress, and the destruc- 

 tion of the Chinchilla is necessarily very 

 considerable in order to supply the con- 

 stant demand for this deservedly popular 

 fur. 



As far as is known, the Chinchilla is 

 not a very intelligent animal, seeming to 

 be hardly superior to the Guinea pig in intellect, and appearing scarcely to recognize even 

 the hand that supplies it with food. 



CHINCHILLA.- C'hincliitta laniger. 



The Lagotis is distinguishable from the preceding animal by the structure of the fore- 

 feet, which are only furnished with four toes, while those of the chinchilla possess five. The 

 ears are very long in proportion to the head, and being somewhat similar to those of the hare, 

 have gained for the animal the generic name of Lagotis, or Hare-eared. 



The hinder limbs are long, and very much resemble those of the hare or rabbit ; and the 

 whole aspect of the creature partakes greatly of the leporine character. The coat is very like 

 that of the hare in color and texture, and is soft, long, and rather woolly, but as it is only 

 slightly attached to the skin, is valueless as a fur. The long ears are rounded at their extrem- 

 ities, and their margins are rolled inwards. The tail is so long that it forms a ready means of 

 separating the Lagotis from the hares or rabbits, being quite as long as the body, and thickly 

 covered with stiff hairs. 



It is an inhabitant of Peru, and takes up its residence in the crevices of the rocky local- 

 ities among which it dwells. Although tolerably active, it appears to be possessed of little 

 endurance, never attempting to escape by speed if it should chance to be alarmed, but diving 

 at once into the welcome shelter of the nearest cranny. When wounded, they always seek 

 the same retreat, so that unless they are killed by some instantly mortal injury, their bodies 

 cannot be recovered by the hunter. The fur of this animal is so slightly attached to the skin 

 that it comes away when handled. The flesh, however, is delicate and tender, and it is chiefly 

 for the sake of its value as an article of food that the Lagotis is hunted. 



