202 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ZOOLOGY, VOL. X: 



The following account of the hunting of guanacos and vicugnas has 

 been contributed by Mr. Collins: 



"Glad we were to reach Mollendo on the west coast of Peru after 

 three weeks sailing from New York. Here we unloaded our sixty pieces 

 of baggage, and owing to the kindness of the Peruvian officials, due to 

 the assistance of the American Minister at Lima, we were passed through 

 the customs without any difficulty, no restriction being placed on the 

 use of our arms, which we felt would be the case while crossing Peru. 

 We were very glad of this as it was our intention to hunt on the high- 

 lands for vicugna and guanaco and a small variety of deer. 



"We had just enough time to pass our baggage and catch the train 

 which followed the shore for a vhile and then started to climb to an 

 absolutely barren ground. Suddenly upon reaching an altitude of some 

 2000 feet we entered the clouds and found a most fertile country, the 

 ground being covered with beautiful flowers. A couple of thousand 

 feet higher we crossed a table-land almost flat, having a sandy soil, the 

 sand being blown by the high winds into numerous dunes, crescentic in 

 shape, which were constantly changing their positions. Again we 

 climbed and twisted through barren mountains, with here and there 

 green, where water was to be found. Finally, we reached Arequipa at 

 an altitude of 7500 feet, and here the train stopped for twenty-four 

 hours in order to give the passengers an opportunity to become accus- 

 tomed to the altitude. 



"The next day we proceeded on our way and at a point 12,500 feet 

 above sea level, called Pampa de Arrieros, we left the train, hearing that 

 at this point the animals we were desirous of getting were to be found. 

 Having finally reached our hunting ground, and with a considerable 

 amount of stored up energy after three weeks idleness on the steamer, 

 it not yet being noon, we at once made arrangements for mules in 

 order to make a hunt that day. After climbing several thousand feet 

 higher, we suddenly came in sight of our game. Dismounting and start- 

 ing to run after it, we suddenly realized the height at which we had 

 arrived, our hearts beating so rapidly that it became impossible for us 

 to continue. The rest of the day we traveled at a snail's pace after the 

 game, which always kept in a very tantalizing way within sight but out 

 of range. Finding that it would be impossible for us to come up with it, 

 we decided to return to our mules and go back to camp. A sudden 

 downpour drenched us to the skin, and a little later darkness overtaking 

 us, and the chill of night coming on, we suffered intensely from the 

 cold. The great heat of the day, the drenching by rain, and the sudden 

 chilling of the air brought on all of us attacks of soroche. It was with 

 great difficulty that we were enabled to get back to our rooms in the 



