Dr Hamilton"'s Observations on the Llama, S{c. 285 



thoroughly all the purposes of the common glass gauge, the 

 position of the surface of water in the boiler being midway 

 betwixt the surfaces of water in the tubes. 



When either or both of the glass tubes is broken, put the 



handles in the position f * , and nothing can escape from 



• • 



the boiler. 



T. W. L. 



Observations on the Llama, Alpaca, Gitanaco, and Vicuna. 

 By Mathie Hamilton, Esq., M. D., late of Peru. Com- 

 municated by the Author. 



Of all the quadrupeds on the elevated regions of the southern 

 American continent, the most worthy of notice is the Llama 

 tribe, which includes the Llama, Alpaca, Guanaco, and Vi- 

 cuna. The llama and alpaca are seen domesticated in 

 Peru, but the guanaco and vicuna only in the wild state, ex- 

 cept where they are kept as prisoners. When the vicuna 

 has been kept within doors for a time, it becomes an interest- 

 ing, frolicksome creature, but it never acquires the tame and 

 docile habits of the llama or alpaca. A beautiful pet vicuna 

 lived in the house with me for several months, and was in t'ao 

 habit of coming into the public room at stated times, and took 

 bread from my hand, when it often jumped about in the apart- 

 ment, and put itself in the most graceful attitudes. 



Vicuna and Guanaco. 



The vicuna is much smaller than the guanaco or alpaca, 

 and is more delicate and handsome in every respect. It has 

 a large, prominent, glistening eye, which has a peculiar and 

 expressive softness ; and when running with amazing speed, its 

 neck, which is long and slender, is carried in a curved position 

 like that of a swan or the letter S. These creatures are ex- 

 ceedingly difficult to take without having recourse to artifice. 



They are seen in small bands of a dozen or more, and are 

 found chiefly in those uninhabited regions of the Andes, where 



