OEDEE OF EODBNTIA. 459 



They arc of a gentle nature, and easily tamed. According to 

 the Abbe Molina, a Chilian author, " any one may safely take 

 them up in the hand and caress them, without any fear of their 

 attempting to bite, or even escape ; added to this, they are sensible 

 of kindness. People are, therefore, fond of keeping them in 

 their houses, in which, indeed, they behave with perfect propriety 

 as regards their habits of cleanliness." 



The Chinchilla constitutes an abundant source of income for a 

 portion of the inhabitants of Chili and Peru. The high price 

 fetched by their fur exposes them to all the evils avidity en- 

 genders. They are hunted with dogs which have been trained to 

 lay hold of them delicately, so as not to injure their valuable coats. 



Fig. 192,— Tlie Ltigotis ( LagotU Cuvicri). 



At the commencement of the present century, the fur of the 

 Chinchilla was so much sought after in Europe, and the quantity 

 of it which was sent from America was so considerable, that the 

 Chilian government was compelled to take energetic measures in 

 order to preserve the species from complete destruction. Between 

 the years 1828 and 1832, there were sold, in London alone, more 

 than eighteen thousand Chinchilla skins. At the present day, 

 although this fur is a little out of fashion, it is still very far from 

 having fallen into disuse. 



The Lagotis Genus. — The Chinchillas have five toes on their 

 hind-feet, but the Lagotis (Fig. 192) have but four, the same as 



