578 



THE GUANACO. 



color of the Vicugna is a nearly uniform brown, tinged with yellow on the back, and fading 

 into gray on the abdomen. Its height at the shoulder is about two feet six inches. 



THE GUANACO is spread over a very wide range of country, ranging over the whole of the 

 temperate regions of Patagonia. The color of this species is a reddish-brown, the ears and 

 hind legs gray. The neck is long in comparison to the size of the body, and the height at the 

 shoulder is about three feet six inches. 



The Guanaco lives in herds varying in number from ten to thirty or forty, but is some- 

 times seen in flocks of much greater numbers, resembling sheep, not only in their gregarious 

 habits, but in the implicit obedience with which they rely upon their leader. Should they be 

 deprived of his guardianship they become so bewildered that they run aimlessly from spot to 

 spot, and can be easily destroyed by experienced hunters. It is a very wary and timid animal ; 



ALPACA, OK PACO. Auc/ienia paco. 



but like many creatures of similar disposition, is possessed with so strong a feeling of curiosity 

 that it can be attracted towards the hunter if he lies down on the ground and kicks his feet in 

 the air. Even the reports of his rifle do not frighten the animals, who, says Darwin, consider 

 them as part of the performance. Still, it is a quick-sighted and wary animal, and if it per- 

 ceives a human being approaching its domicile, it sets up a shrill neighing scream, which is 

 often the first intimation of its presence. The whole herd then set off into a rapid canter along 

 the hill-side, and gain some elevated spot where they can feel themselves safe. 



The Guanaco, in common with the other species, is rather short-tempered, and has a very 

 unpleasant habit of displaying its anger by discharging a shower of half -digested food and 

 saliva over the offender. Formerly, this salival discharge was thought to be acrid, and capable 

 of raising blisters upon the human skin. This, however, is fortunately not the case, although 

 the assault is eminently disagreeable, on account of the ill scent of the ejected liquid. In its 

 wild state the Guanaco seems to have little or no idea of resistance, being easily held by a 

 single dog until the hunter can come up and make sure of his prize. But in domesticated life, 

 it seems to imbibe a spirit of combativeness, for it will kick with both hind legs, and deliver 

 severe blows with the knees of those limbs. Among themselves, however, the males fight 

 desperately, the cause of combat being generally some favored and coveted female. 



