OR, A TREATISE ON IMI/E. 147 



Button, little more than a swelling; length, -^L; greatest diameter, -^fc that of the 

 shaft being T 7 of a millimeter; a slight club at the lower extremity; sheath, white, trans- 

 parent; length, |; diameter, of a millimeter; shaft, uniform in shape and diameter; 

 cortex, white, fibrous, transversely striated and transparent; fibres, white, transparent; 

 disks, exhibit a white centre, which is sometimes eccentrically elliptical, being T |-Q by 

 T f 7 of a millimeter ; at others, the shape of a chain shot, and at others, strise irregular ; 

 apex, pointed. (See fig. 97.) 



The Pile of the Back. Length, 3i inches; shape, imperfectly cylindrical; compressed 

 on three sides; diameter, T f 7 of a millimeter; shaft, irregular; color, light brown; slightly 

 undulated ; apex, pointed. 



Ductility, Elasticity and Tenacity. 



With 170 grains one inch stretched -fa of an inch, elasticity entire. 

 " 22 " 9 4 o minus ft 



" 270 ft " " % 



" 47 " 9 6 o " A 



" 52 " 9 7 cr " ^ 



" 570 " " _?- " " 4 



90 97 



" 620 ft. ^ ff 



" 67 " If " A 



" 72 " if " " i 



" 770 " broke. Fracture, compound. 



Disk, exhibits a dark colored white, of a compressed cylinder, with a white centre 

 formed by the union of three white dots, so arranged as to form together a compressed 

 right angle triangle. The great ductility of this pile, especially that of the breast, indi- 

 cates a great degree of softness, which compensates for its comparative coarseness. (See 

 fig. 97.) 



OF THE VICUNIA, (CAMELUS VICUGNA.) This animal also belongs to the genus Lama, 

 and the tribe of " Camels." He is about as large as a Sheep, and is equally remarkable 

 for his fawn colored wool of an admirable fineness and softness. He inhabits the heights 

 of the Andes in Peru and Chili ; where he is sought for his wool, to be fabricated into 

 precious stuffs. (Elem. de Zool., 435.) 



The animal from which our specimens were taken was from Buenos Ayres. He is 

 smaller than the Lama Anchenia, his limbs more neatly formed, and no protuberance on 

 the breast. He is of a reddish-brown color on the upper part of the body, and whitish- 

 brown below. Dr. Von Tschudi says, that in Tarma and its neighborhood the natives 

 weave an exquisitely fine description of woollen cloth from the fleece of the Vicunia and 

 Alpaca. A poncho, made of these materials, will sell for one hundred to one hundred and 

 twenty dollars. The hairs are the long and short, from the back and sides. 



OF THE PACA OR ALPACA. This is the vulgar name of one variety of another species 

 of the Lama, viz : the L. Guanaco. The Guanaco is found in all the high mountains oi 

 ' 37 



