tv0 THE CHINCHILLA. 
service in protecting it from the cold. Itisa burrowing antmal, digging ix 
subterranean homes in the valleys which intersect the hilly country in wh.c 
it lives, and banding together in great numbers in certain favoured localities, 
‘Lhe food of the Chinchilla is exclusively of a vegetable nature, and consists 
chiefly of various bulbous roots. While 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 supposed 
from the beautiful delicacy of its fur, for we may always remark, that when- 
CHINCHILLA —(Chinchilla léniger.) 
ever an animal is reinarkable for the colouring or the texture of its natural 
robes, it is always most assiduous 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 grey upon the back, 
softening into a greyish white on the under portions, and its texture is 
marvellously soft and fine. 
THE GERBOAS bear a curious resemblance to the kangaroos, not only in 
their general appearance, but in many of their habits. Like those animals, 
they leap over distances which are absolutely enormous when the size of their 
bodies is taken into consideration ; they constantly sit upright in order to 
observe surrounding objects, their food is of the same nature, and they carry 
it to their mouths in a similar manner. Their fore-limbs are extremely short, 
while their hinder legs are developed to a very great extent, and they are all 
furnished with a long, hair-clad tail, which serves to aid them in preserving 
their balance while shooting through the air. 
The most familiar of these singular creatures is the common GERBOA of 
Northern Africa. This beautiful and active little animal is hardly larger than 
an ordinary English rat, although its peculiar attitudes and its extremely long 
tail give it an appearance of greater dimensions than it really possesses. 
The general colour of its fur is a light dun, washed with yellow, the abdomen 
being nearly white. The tail is of very great proportionate length, is 
