162 THE INDUSTRIES OF ANIMALS. 



prepares several chambers side by side ; one of which 

 he uses for observation and to take his siesta in; a 

 second as a sort of larder in which he piles up what 

 he cannot devour at once ; a third, in which the 

 female brings forth and rears her young. But he 

 does not hesitate to avoid this labour when possible. 

 If he finds a rabbit warren he tries first to eat the 

 inhabitants, and then, his mind cleared from this 

 anxiety, arranges their domicile to his own taste, and 

 comfortably installs himself in it. In South America, 

 again, the Argentine Fox frequently takes up per- 

 manent residence in a vizcachera, ejecting the rightful 

 owners; he is so quiet and unassuming in his manners 

 that the vizcachas become indifferent to his presence, 

 but in spring the female fox will seize on the young 

 vizcachas to feed her own young, and if she has eight 

 or nine, the young of the whole village of vizcachas 

 may be exterminated. 



The Badger's dwelling appears to the Fox particu- 

 larly enviable. In order to dislodge the proprietor he 

 adopts the following, plan. Knowing that the latter 

 can tolerate no ordure near his home, he chooses as a 

 place of retirement one of the passages which lead 

 to the chamber of the peaceful recluse. He insists 

 repeatedly, until at last the Badger, insulted by this 

 grossness, and suffocated by the odour, decides to 

 move elsewhere and hollow a fresh palace. The Fox 

 is only waiting for this, and installs himself without 

 ceremony. 



The Vizcacha {Lagostcinus trichodactylus) is a large 

 Rodent inhabiting a vast extent of country in the 

 pampas of La Plata, Patagonia, etc. Unlike most 

 other burrowing species, the Vizcacha prefers to work 

 on open level spots. On the great grassy plains it is 



