MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 351 



secure specimens. Owing to this, and to the idea that they may sell their 

 luck, it took considerable bargaining to induce owners to supply us. After 

 a bargain is made the wife must agree to it, and, of course, she objects until 

 the price is raised. « It is my brother! ' 'It is my sister! ' ' It is one of my 

 family ! ' ' I cannot sell it ! ' ' Any other than that ! ' and dozens of similar 

 expressions, that are repeated over any other selected, are urged against 

 selling, until, thoroughly disgusted, one either throws down the price, kills 

 the "animal, and takes it, or goes to repeat the scene at some other hut." 



Seven specimens were obtained, including a skeleton and six skins suitable 

 for mounting, representing both sexes, and both the black and the brown or 

 coffee-colored races. 



4. Auchenia Vicugnia (Mol.) Desm. " The Vicunas, like the Guana- 

 cos, are wild, but the young are often captured and reared as pets. The 

 Vicuna is smaller than the Guanaco, and lacks the long hairs that in the 

 latter extend beyond the wool. It prefers the open pampa. When a herd 

 is alarmed they will run for a short distance, and then halt and turn about to 

 gaze at the object that alarmed them. If it approach they scamper on again, 

 to again repeat the manoeuvre. Their cry of warning or alarm is a peculiar, 

 rapidly repeated bleating bark,, somewhat resembling that of a large squirrel, 

 the last note being prolonged like the bleat of a young lamb, and may be 

 heard for more than half a mile. In March the young are born, at which 

 time the females are found among the foot-hills along the edge of the pampa. 

 We saw many females with young, but in no instance was there more than 

 one." 



Five specimens were collected, including a skeleton and several skins suit- 

 able for mounting, the latter embracing both sexes and the young. 



5. Auchenia Guanaco. " The Guanacos did not, like the Vicuna, trust 

 to their swiftness for safety, but took to the hills, where, running from sum- 

 mit to summit, it was very difficult to follow them. Their cry is much like 

 that of the Vicuna. These animals exhibit a great deal of curiosity. Hunt- 

 era on the plains often throw themselves on their backs, put up their feet 

 and hands, raise a blanket or poncho, or roll over and over to make the 

 game curious ; it then approaches gradually until within gunshot. Several 

 are thus often secured before the herd takes to flight. By concealing them- 

 selves in pits the Indians are able to draw them within reach of the bolus, — 

 a lariat, to the end of which are attached several shorter lines, each with a 

 weight, usually a rounded stone, at its end. The bolus is thrown in such a 

 manner as to twine around the necks and legs. One of the weights bought at 

 Juli was a fac-simile of the so-called ' sinker stones ' from Northern Europe. 

 It was about two and a half .inches in length by one and a half in diameter, 

 oval, with a groove cut around its middle for the cord. Though small, i' 

 was very heavy, being formed from ironstone, or meteorite, full of pyrites." 



