ORDER OE RODENTIA. 
459 
They are of a gentle nature, and easily tamed. According to 
the Abbe Molina, a Chilian author, “ any one may safely take 
them up in the hand and caress them, without any fear of their 
attempting to bite, or even escape ; added to this, they are sensible 
of kindness. People are, therefore, fond of keeping them in 
their houses, in which, indeed, they behave with perfect propriety 
as regards their habits of cleanliness.” 
The Chinchilla constitutes an abundant source of income for a 
portion of the inhabitants of Chili and Peru. The high price 
fetched by their fur exposes them to all the evils avidity en- 
genders. They are hunted with dogs which have been trained to 
lay hold of them delicately, so as not to injure their valuable coats. 
Fig. 192. — The Lagotis ( Lagotis Cuvieri). 
At the commencement of the present century, the fur of the 
Chinchilla was so much sought after in Europe, and the quantity 
of it which was sent from America was so considerable, that the 
Chilian government was compelled to take energetic measures in 
order to preserve the species from complete destruction. Between 
the years 1828 and 1832, there were sold, in London alone, more 
than eighteen thousand Chinchilla skins. At the present day, 
although this fur is a little out of fashion, it is still very far from 
having fallen into disuse. 
The Lagotis Genus . — The Chinchillas have five toes on their 
hind-feet, but the Lagotis (Fig. 192) have but four, the same as 
