THE COMMON CHINCHILLA 255 



it is perpetually seeking to retire from view, and you see 

 little more than a pearl-gray ball of fine, silky fur in the 

 southwest corner of the cage. It is very unlikely that this 



THE VISCACHA. 



delicate little creature ever can be bred in captivity, with- 

 out far more trouble and expense than its fur is worth. 



The Chinchilla is slightly rabbit-like in its form, its hind 

 legs being extra long; but there the resemblance ceases, for 

 it has large, rounded ears of great breadth and a bushy tail 

 nearly as long as its body. Speaking generally, the adult 

 animal (except the largest species. Chinchilla brevicauda) has 

 a head-and-body length of about 15 inches, with a 10-inch 

 tail. 



