130 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 
each to possess a smaller third lamina of bone, with its 
corresponding enamel, placed in front of, and not project- 
ing so far externally as, the two remaining portions of the 
tooth. This third lamina is separated from that next to it 
by a deep groove on the inner side, but on the outer there 
is no indication of such a division ; the inner surface of each 
of these teeth consequently offers two such grooves, while 
the outer presents no more than one. 
In the observations appended to his account of the teeth 
Mr. Yarrell appears to consider the Chinchilla as nearly 
allied to Mr. Brooke’s new genus Lagostomus, of which a 
figure and description are contained in the last published 
part (the first of the sixteenth volume) of the Linnsean 
Transactions; and the general resemblance of form, together 
with the characters of the teeth as given in that notice, un- 
questionably warrant at least a close approximation. But 
we apprehend that the alteration above made in the descrip- 
tion of the teeth of the Chinchilla, together with the dis- 
crepancy in the number of the toes, which in our animal 
are four on the hind feet, while in Lagostomus they are but 
three, will be considered fully sufficient to establish a 
generic difference between them. The close affinity sub- 
sisting between these animals has been subsequently re- 
cognised by M. Cuvier, from the very imperfect materials 
in his possession, consisting only of mutilated skins of the 
one and drawings and descriptions of the other. In the 
new edition, just published, of his Regne Animal he re- 
gards them both as decidedly forming part of the same 
genus; but does not venture, until he shall have seen their 
teeth, to determine their position in the series, which he 
considers so uncertain as to render it doubtful whether 
they approach most nearly to the Guinea-pigs, the Lagomys 
or the Rats. In the removal of these doubts we are happy 
to assist by furnishing the proof that, although generically 
distinct, they both evidently belong to the same natural 
tribe, and contribute, along with Lagomys and Pedetes, to 
establish a connexion between the otherwise widely sepa- 
rated families of the Hares and the Jerboas. 
The length of the body in our specimen is about nine 
inches, and that of the tail nearly five. Its proportions are 
close-set, and its limbs comparatively short, the posterior 
being considerably longer than the anterior. The fur is 
long, thick, close, woolly, somewhat crisped and entangled 
together, grayish or ash-coloured above, and paler beneath. 
The form of the head resembles that of the Rabbit; the 
eyes are full, large, and black; and the ears broad, naked, 
rounded at the tips, and nearly as long as the head. The 
moustaches are plentiful and very long, the longest being 
twice the length of the head, some of them black, and others 
white. Four short toes, with a distinct rudiment of a 
thumb, terminate the anterior feet; and the posterior are 
furnished with the same number, three of them long, the 
middle more produced .than the two lateral ones, and the 
fourth, external to the others, very short and placed far be- 
hind. On all these toes the claws are short, and nearly 
hidden by tufts of bristly hairs. The tail is about half the 
length of the body, of equal thickness throughout, and 
covered with long bushy hairs; it is usually kept turned 
up towards the back, but not reverted as in the Squirrels. 
To the account of its habits given by Molina we can only 
add that it usually sits upon its haunches, and is even able 
to raise itself up and stand upon its hinder feet. It feeds in 
a sitting posture, grasping its food and conveying it to its 
mouth by means of its fore paws. In its temper it is gene- 
rally mild and tractable, but it will not always suffer itself 
to be handled without resistance, and sometimes bites the 
hand which attempts to fondle it when not in a humour to 
be played with. 
Although a native of the alpine valleys of Chili, and 
consequently subjected in its own country to the effects of a 
low temperature of the atmosphere, against which its thick 
coat affords an admirable -protection; it was thought neces- 
sary to keep it during the winter in a moderately warm 
room, and a piece of flannel was even introduced into its 
sleeping apartment for its greater comfort. But this indul- 
gence was most pertinaciously rejected, and as often as the 
flannel was replaced, so often was it dragged by the little 
animal into the outer compartment of its cage, where it 
amused itself with pulling it about, rolling it up and shaking 
it with its feet and teeth. In other respects it exhibits but 
little playfulness, and gives few signs of activity; seldom 
disturbing its usual quietude by any sudden or extraordinary 
gambols, but occasionally displaying strong symptoms of 
alarm when startled by any unusual occurrence. It is, in 
fact, a remarkably tranquil and peaceable animal unless 
when its timidity gets the better of its gentleness. 
A second individual of this interesting species has lately 
been added to the collection by the kindness of Lady Knigh- 
ton, in whose possession it had remained for twelve months 
previously to her presenting it to the Society. This 
specimen is larger in size and rougher in its fur than the 
one above described ; its colour is also less uniformly gray, 
deriving a somewhat mottled appearance from the numerous 
small blackish spots which are scattered over the back and 
sides. It is possible that this may be the Peruvian variety, 
mentioned in the extract from Schmidtmeyer’s Travels, as 
furnishing a less delicate and valuable fur than the Chilian 
animal. It is equally good tempered and mild in its dispo- 
sition; and, probably in consequence of having been domi- 
ciliated in a private house instead of having been exhibited 
in a public collection, is much more tame and playful. In 
its late abode it was frequently suffered to run about the 
