460 



MAMMALIA. 



on the fore-feet. Added to this, their ears and their tail are 

 longer, and their shape is more elegant. These are the principal 

 features which justify their being placed in a separate genus. 

 They are natives of the Bolivian, Peruvian, and Chilian Andes, 

 and" in their habits differ but little from Chinchillas. Their 

 coat is as soft as that of the latter animal, but of a less uniform 

 shade of colour. In spite of this it possesses value. 



The Vimicha Genus. — These animals (Fig. 193) are character- 

 ised by a very thick snout, furnished with black strong feelers, 

 by a moderately- sized tail of a brush-like shape, four toes 

 on the front feet, and three on the hind, the latter armed with 



'^^^- > kJ^ 



Fig. 19o. — The Marmot Diana Viscache {Lagostomus trickadactylus), 



strong claws. Added to this, their hind-legs are longer than 

 their fore-legs, and they leap like the Jerboas. This latter 

 feature, however, is much less exaggerated in the Viscacha than 

 in the Jerboa. 



The habitat of these animals is the vast plains or pampas of 

 South America, or the basin of La Plata river. Thej' live in 

 communities, and hollow out very deep burrows. Grasses and 

 vegetables constitute the chief part of their food. Their usual 

 posture is that generally assumed by Rabbits ; and they use their 

 feet to convey their food into their mouths. Their movements 

 are very active, and they are excessively wary and difficult of 



