CHINCHE. 
arch on the skies of the belly. It's iegs are 
short; and thi paws are divided into five toes, 
armed with black claws, with vv;h!ch it digs 
holes in the earth. It's back is arched hke 
that of a Hog, and it's belly is flat. The tail 
is of equal length with the body, and differs 
not from that of the Fox, The hair is of a 
dark grey colour, and as long as that of a Cat. 
It burrows in the earth like a Rabbit, but it's 
hole is not so deep. I have had much diffi- 
culty in extra6ling the bad smell of this ani- 
mal from my cloaths which had been infe6led 
by it: though severar times washed, soaked, 
and dried in the sun, it continued more than 
eight days. I was informed, that this smell 
proceeds from the animal's urine, which it dis- 
charges on it's tail, and by this means dis- 
perses it all around, in order to put the enemy 
to flight by the intolerable stench ; that it, for 
the same purpose, wets the entrance to it's ha- 
bitation ; and, that it is so very fond of small 
birds, and poultry, as to prove the chief cause 
of the destru61:ion of birds in the country of 
Buenos- Ay res.'* 
It is observed, by Buffon, that the Chinche 
appears 
