]Q8 RUMINANTIA. 



formation resembling those excrescences, and "consisting of an 

 excess of nutritious matter, in the shape of a thick coat of fat 

 under the skin, which is absorbed as a compensation for want of 

 occasional food." 



The genus Auchenia is now generally considered to include 

 three species, viz., the Auchenia Llama, or Guanaco, which is 

 used for burdens, and the Auchenia Alpaca and the Vicugna, 

 which are raised for their flesh and wool. Cuvier regards 

 the Paco or Alpaca, as a variety of the Llama, with the wool 

 more amply developed, but the Vicugna as a distinct species. 



Llama is the common term with which the Peruvians designate 

 their sheep. The wild Llama is usually of a deep rich fawn, 

 verging to white on the under parts. The wool is long and 

 shaggy, but shorter on the neck and limbs than on the body. 

 The long slender neck is "held erect and swan-like;" the head 

 is small; the lips are thick; the eye large and brilliant. On 

 the breast, there is a bunch which constantly exudes a yellowish 

 oily matter. The length of this animal is six feet ; the height at 

 the shoulders about four. The reclaimed Guanaco or domes- 

 ticated Llama, is greater in size than the wild animal; the body 

 is slender, and the limbs more muscular; the wool smoother and 

 closer; the physiognomy is no longer wild and independent, 

 and it's air betokens mildness and subjection. The color is white, 

 brown, black, and sometimes mixed or piebald. Its step is slow 

 and regular, and it has not the strength or energy of the wild 

 Guanaco, carrying at the most but one hundred and fifty pounds. 

 Under this load, however, it will travel with firm and sure step 

 fourteen or fifteen miles a day, along rugged mountain-passes 

 and the narrow ledges of precipitous rocks ; but if loaded too 

 heavily, or urged beyond its wonted pace, camel-like, it lies 

 down and refuses to move another step. All that the conductor 

 can do, in such a case, is to sit down by the animal and wait 

 until " by his blandishments, he prevails on it to rise spontane- 

 ously." The difference in weight and speed between this animal 

 and the Camel, the Peruvians make up in the great numbers 

 which they use of these beasts of burden, one drove sometimes 

 including more than five hundred that subsist in traveling as 

 they are able. Formerly these animals were used in bringing 

 down the products of the mines, and 300,000, it is said, were 

 once employed in the mines of Potosi alone. Mules, however, 

 are now chiefly used for that purpose; though the Llama is still 

 employed to some extent ; its labor involving less expense. The 

 white Llama is said to have been the presiding divinity of the 

 natives of Callas before that province was annexed to the empire 



