These little animals are exceedingly numerous in the central parts of
Chile. They frequent by hundreds the hedge-rows and thickets, where they
make burrows close together, leading one into another. They feed by day
in a fearless manner; and are very destructive to fields of young corn;
when disturbed, they all run together towards their burrows in the same
manner that rabbits in England do when feeding outside a covert. When
running they carry their tails high up, more like squirrels than rats;
and they often remain seated on their haunches, like the former animals.
According to Molina[36] they lay up a store of food for the winter, but
do not become dormant. The Octodon is the “degu” of that author: he says
that the Indians in past times used to eat them with much relish. These
animals appear to be very subject to be piebald and albinos; as if
partly under the influence of domestication.