328 



MAMMALIA— LLAMA. 



THE LLAMA.i 



The height of this animal is about four feet; its body, comprehending the 

 neck and head, is five or six feet long ; its neck alone is near three feet. 

 The head is small and well proportioned, the eyes large, the nise somewhat 

 long, the lips thick, the upper divided, and the lower a little depending : it 

 wants the incisive and canine teeth in the upper jaw. The ears are four 

 inches long, and move with great agility. The tail is seldom above eight 

 xnches long, small, straight, and a little turned up at the end. It is cloven 

 footed, like the ox ; but the hoof has a kind of spear-like appendage behind, 

 which assists the animal to move and support itself over precipices and 

 rugged ways. The back is clothed with a short wool, as is the crupper and 

 tail ; but it is very long on the belly and sides. These animals differ in 

 color; some are white, others black, but most of them brown. The engrav- 

 ing was drawn from a white llama, in the Zoological Gardens. 



The growth of the llama is very quick ; and its life is but of short dura- 

 tion. This animal couples so early as at three years of age, and remains 

 strong and vigorous till twelve ; after which it begins to decline, and 



1 Auchcnia glama, Lin. The genus Auckenia has two upper and six lower incisors; 

 two upper and no lower canines; two upper false molars; ten upper and ten lower true 

 molars. Teeth resembling tho«e of the camel ; muzzle little protuberent ; upper lip cleft; 

 neck slender; eyes large ; ears long, pointed, and moveable; feet terminated by two to'-s 

 furnished with little crooked nails, with a callous sole ; call lilies or the breast and 

 knees ; tail short ; two mammae. 



