The Chinchilla. 105 
THE CHINCHILLA. (Chinchilla lanigera.) 
The Chinchilla is a native of America, and its coat pro- 
duces the beautiful fur known by its name. The length 
of the body of this little animal is about nine inches, 
and its tail nearly five; its limbs are comparatively 
short, the hind legs being much the longest. The fur 
is of a remarkably close and fine texture, somewhat 
crisped, and entangled together; of a grayish or ash 
colour above, and paler beneath. It is used for muffs, 
tippets, and linings of cloaks, and is perhaps prettier 
than the Sable, although less durable, and less valuable 
in commerce, excepting when fashion rules. The form 
of the head resembles that of the rabbit ; the eyes are 
full, large, and black; and the ears broad, naked, round 
at the tips, and nearly as long as the head. The 
whiskers are plentiful and strong, the longest being 
twice as long as the head, some of them black, others 
white. Four short toes, with an appearance of a thumb, 
terminate the fore feet ; the hinder have the same num- 
ber of toes, but have less the appearance of hands : on 
all 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 resembles in some degree the jer- 
boa, and takes its food, like that animal, in its fore paws, 
sitting on its haunches. The temper of the Chinchilla is 
mild and tractable. It dwells in burrows under ground, 
and produces young twice a year, bringing forth five or 
six at a time. It feeds upon the roots of bulbous plants. 
