102 CAMELID^. 



" Until lately it has never been thought necessary to shear the ani- 

 mals of their long coats (that is, those in our Gardens), although in 

 their native country, according to Colpaert, on the Alpaca this ope- 

 ration is performed every two or three years. 



" On our male Llama the fleece has always remained perfect, until 

 the operation of shearing was performed about the end of last 

 August. On the female Llama, which is along with this male, it 

 was different, as during this summer the fleece became ragged and 

 partially dropped off", which circumstance suggested the shearing of 

 the others. This fact is significant, and at variance with the re- 

 corded observations of the late Earl of Derby in his celebrated 

 Knowsley collection. Upon this subject he says, * Unlike sheep, 

 these animals never shed their coats.' 



" The same may be said of the Alpacas as of the male Llama, their 

 fleeces exhibiting no signs of falling off. 



" The operation of shearing was performed as ordinarily in sheep, 

 and the quantities obtained were as follows : — From the brown- and- 

 white male Llama about 14 lbs. ; from the black female Alpaca 8 lbs. ; 

 and from the black-and-white male Alpaca 8| lbs. Colpaert, one of 

 the most recent authorities on these animals in their South- American 

 haunts, does not compare the weights and value of the fleece in the 

 two domesticated and two wild varieties ; but he says that the Chi- 

 nela, a variety of Alpaca, yields the most esteemed and heaviest kind 

 of fleece, but it is rare that it surpasses 6 or 7 lb. 



" As depicted in the plate, the Llama has more clearly a spotted 

 ai^pearauce than when the fleece was upon it ; this may partly be 

 on account of the original intertwining of the fibres of the two dif- 

 ferent colours, and still more, no doubt, by the then accumulation of 

 dirt and smoke which blackened the surface. The two Alpacas did 

 not alter in colour so far as to make any marked difference in theii' 

 asjject. 



" The neck in all three shorn animals appears to have a far greater 

 length proportionally to the body ; and the same remark apphes to 

 the hind legs, the thighs of which are seen more than usually free 

 fi'om the body — a character of the family Camelidce. The body in 

 contour is entirely transformed ; and the rough sheep- or goat-like 

 hairy carcass, the awkward, uncouth, disproportionate body, with its 

 naked flanks and generally scraggy look, detract from grace in the 

 animals, and render their appearance more remarkable than beau- 

 tiful. 



" From their peculiar gait and slouching ungainly manner, if but a 

 hump were present, they would at once recall to mind a tottering 

 young Camel." — Murie, I. c. 





V y^ /^Sa 



Printed by Tayloi; aud Feaxcis. Ked Lion Court, Ficet Street. 



