280 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



LLAMAS, ETC. 



LLA.MAS arc called the camels of the New World ; and 

 under this common name are included more than one 

 species. They live in large herds, and are much more 

 sightly than the animals to which they are compared. 

 Their backs are straighter, their heads very handsome, 

 and their fleeces are thick and equal. They will carry 

 a load of 150 Ibs., and were the only beasts of burthen 

 found among the Peruvians when these people were 

 conquered by the Spaniards. Their feet differ from 

 those of the camel, but are equally adapted to the soil 

 which they have to traverse. They are formed of two 

 springy toes, each of which has a rough cushion under- 

 neath, and a strong short hoof on the tip, pointed and 

 hooked like a claw. These take firm hold of the rapid 

 and precipitous ascents and descents which they en- 

 counter in x travelling to and from the mines, in which 

 journeys they carry 100 Ibs. of metal over the rugged 

 mountain passes, and perform a distance of about twelve 

 miles during the day. At one time 300,000 were em- 

 ployed by the Potosi mines alone. In one respect they 

 imitate camels by lying down and refusing to stir 

 when they are overloaded, and they never go beyond 

 their usual pace. They spit in the face of their riders 

 when tied up or made to lie down, which is particularly 

 disagreeable from the nature of their saliva. 



The different species are not clearly defined, and we 

 require a most intimate knowledge of them before we 

 can separate them from each other. The domestic 

 animals are certainly Llamas ; then there are the 

 G uanacos, which are also called Huanacos. They live 



