MR.  E.  T.  BENNETT  ON  THE  CHINCHILLID^. 
47 
least  appearing  so  from  the  length  and  density  of  the  fur,  which  during  life  was  usually 
puffed  out  so  as  to  present  the  tips  rather  than  the  sides  of  the  hairs  to  the  observer. 
The  tail  is  moderately  long  and  of  a  cylindrical  form,  unless  when  the  hairs  of  the  upper 
surface  are  erected.  These  hairs  are  long  and  rigid  ;  they  occupy  the  whole  middle  line 
of  the  tail  above,  and  become  gradually  longer  as  they  approach  the  tip,  where  they 
finally  project  in  a  bristly  tuft  three  inches  beyond  the  extremity  of  the  vertebra.  On 
the  sides  and  under  surface  of  the  tail,  the  hairs  are  short  and  closely  adpressed. 
The  anterior  limbs  are  much  shorter  than  the  posterior,  and  like  them  terminate  in 
only  four  short  toes,  which  are  scarcely  united  at  their  base  by  an  intervening  mem- 
brane. On  the  fore  feet  the  outer  toe  is  the  shortest,  and  the  length  increases  gra- 
dually to  the  third,  counting  inwards  ;  the  fourth  is  shorter  than  the  third,  and  about 
equal  in  length  to  the  second.  The  claws  are  small,  placed  on  the  upper  part  of  the 
ungueal  phalanx,  and  slightly  sharpened  ;  they  are  entirely  concealed  by  long  and 
somewhat  bristly  hairs,  which  also  pass  down  between  the  toes.  On  the  sole  there  is 
one  large  basal  tubercle,  internal  to  which,  and  ranging  with  it  in  front,  is  a  much 
smaller  one  ;  and  anterior  to  these  are  placed  three  others,  of  nearly  equal  size,  forming 
at  the  roots  of  the  toes  a  curved  line,  the  outer  termination  of  which  is  somewhat  pos- 
terior to  the  inner.  On  the  hinder  feet  the  outer  toe  is  placed  far  backwards  ;  it  is 
also  somewhat  shorter  than  the  others,  and  its  extremity  consequently  does  not  quite 
reach  the  base  of  the  next  adjoining  toe.  Of  the  remaining  three  the  middle  is  the 
longest,  and  the  two  others  are  nearly  equal.  The  claws  are  larger  and  more  curved 
than  those  of  the  anterior  feet,  and  are,  like  them,  concealed  by  long  hairs.  This  de 
scription,  however,  does  not  apply  to  the  inner  toe,  the  claw  of  which  is  flattened, 
curved  inwards,  and  exposed  to  view  ;  the  hairs  immediately  adjoining  it  consisting  of 
a  tuft  of  about  eight  rows  of  stiff,  horny,  curved  bristles,  approaching  in  their  rigidity 
to  the  comb-like  appendage  which  is  found  in  almost  the  same  situation  in  the  Cteno- 
dactylus  Massonii,  Gray.  The  sole  consists  of  a  long  and  large  basal  tubercle,  internal 
to  which  is  a  smaller  elongated  one,  extending  further  forwards ;  of  a  tubercle  at  the 
base  of  the  outer  and  shorter  toe  ;  and  of  two  tubercles  ranging  nearly  with  the  tip  of 
that  toe,  and  placed  at  the  base  of  the  three  remaining  toes. 
The  hairy  coat  is  almost  entirely  composed  of  a  beautifully  soft  and  downy  fur,  of 
considerable  length,  but  loosely  attached  to  the  skin,  and  readily  falling  off,  at  least  in 
the  specimen  examined,  unless  carefully  handled.  This  fur  is  of  a  dusky  hue  at  the 
base,  and  to  within  a  short  distance  of  the  tip,  where  for  a  space  of  from  one  to  three 
lines  in  extent  it  is  of  a  dirty  white,  more  or  less  tinged  with  yellowish  brown.  Through 
it  protrude  a  few  long  hairs,  which  are  entirely  black,  and  are  more  numerous  pos- 
teriorly. The  mixture  of  these  colours  gives  the  general  effect  of  a  mottled  greyish  ash- 
colour.  On  the  sides  of  the  neck  and  body,  where  the  tips  of  the  fur  verge  more  into 
yellowish  brown  than  on  the  back,  and  where  they  are  also  of  greater  length,  as  well  as 
on  the  haunches  and  beneath,  this  tinge  appears  rather  more  predominant.    There  is 
