l6 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 102 



of the earth, like mice, frogs, and others of the sort, which are pro- 

 duced by the putrefaction of the earth. 



39. Neither should we theorize and conclude that they crossed at 

 the Strait of Anian, for if that were so, they would exist in that 

 region, since it is generally cold up there on account of the high 

 latitude where the Strait lies ; and as in that country and Quivira the 

 woolly humpbacked buffalo have bred and perpetuated themselves, 

 which are likewise unique in the world, the llamas could have per- 

 sisted there — if indeed it is not the case that the varying conditions 

 and climates have accidentally differentiated them, as has been known 

 to happen with some animals in taking them from one country to 

 another ; of this there are examples in La Guaira and Villarica, 

 localities in the Diocese of Paraguay. The cows and bulls which are 

 taken there grow hair that is thick and very long, and at the same 

 time they lose their moo ; still, that is not sufficient reason for con- 

 sidering that the Peruvian llamas and other species mentioned, must 

 have been changed by accident, and were not bred from the beginning 

 just such as they are today. If by chance they moved elsewhere, 

 they perished and could not perpetuate their kind ; and since they 

 live only in the region mentioned, we have to assume as certain that 

 they crossed over to it as has been stated. 



40. And it is not astonishing that they are found only in these coun- 

 tries and not in others, since that is according to divine disposition 

 and providence, just as elephants also are only to be found in one 

 region, the East Indies, and not in others ; the same is true of 

 rhinoceroses, and in Africa with camels, and many other genera of 

 animals which live in some regions and not in others, according as 

 divine providence ordained and disposed, and according to their 

 natural fitness for breeding and perpetuating their kind. 



41. There are many other animals in the New World of the genera 

 found in Europe and Africa, like lions, tigers, ounces, bears, stags, 

 deer, wolves, foxes, wild pigs, and other families and genera of ani- 

 mals ; both those of the countries referred to and others which live 

 in those regions, very strange and peculiar. Of them all it is certain 

 that after the Flood abated, they came by land, some in the quarter 

 mentioned, others crossing from Tartary by the Strait of Anian, 

 others by the northern route over that country of the Rio Nevado and 

 other regions, and then they moved on inland into the mainland, and 

 thus they have increased and perpetuated themselves in those wide, 

 extensive territories, each species of animal in the region it required 

 for its increase and preservation, according to its nature. And in 

 these regions referred to, passage by flight was available with greater 



