l66 THE INDUSTRIES OF ANIMALS. 



colour, sit upright on their haunches, as if to command 

 a better view; they are always wilder and sprightlier 

 in their gestures than the males. They view a human 

 stranger with a mixture of fear and curiosity, some- 

 times allowing him to come within five or six paces 

 of them ; in desert regions, however, where enemies 

 are numerous, the Vjzcacha is very timid and 

 wary. 



These animals are very sociable, and their sociability 

 extends beyond their own vizcachera. On approach- 

 ing a vizcachera at night, usuallysome of the Vizcachas 

 on it scamper off to distant burrows. These are neigh- 

 bours merely come to pay a friendly visit. The 

 intercourse is so frequent that little straight paths are 

 formed from one village to another. Their social 

 instinct leads members of one village to assist those 

 of another when in trouble. Thus, if a vizcachera is 

 covered over with earth in order to destroy the 

 animals within, Vizcachas from distant burrows will 

 subsequently be found zealously digging out their 

 friends. The hospitality of the Vizcacha does not, 

 however, extend to his burrow ; he has a very strong 

 feeling with regard to the sanctity of the burrow. 

 A Vizcacha never enters another's burrow, and if by 

 chance driven into one by dogs will emerge speedily, 

 apparently finding that the danger within is greater than 

 the danger without. In connection with the sociability 

 of the Vizcacha, we must take into consideration the 

 fact that Vizcachas possess a wonderfully varied and 

 expressive language, and are engaged in perpetual 

 discussion all night long.'^ 



' The Vizcacha has been carefully studied by Mr. W. H. Hudson, 

 whose account has here been closely followed, Froceedings of the Zoo- 

 logical Society, 1872, and Naturalist in La Plata, 1892, pp. 289-313. 



