190 



RUMINANTIA. 



difficult to unravel ; it is not injured by keeping, nor does it lose 

 in weight; and it is less subject to injury from moths, as the fol- 

 lowing fact will show. A small bundle of Alpaca wool, with a 

 few locks of other wool mixed with it, was accidentally thrown 

 into a closet and forgotten. At the end of twelve months, the 

 closet was opened, when it appeared that the rnoths had nearly 

 eaten up the common, without injuring, at all, the Alpaca wool. 

 The fleeces of Alpaca wool range, in Peru, from ten to twelve 

 pounds each, whereas, "those of our full sized sheep seldom go 

 beyond eight pounds, and the small species four pounds." As far 

 back as the days of Philip II., efforts were made to introduce 

 these animals into Spain ; but failed through the intervention of 

 war. They were taken to France, in the days of Napoleon I., 

 where they have found a congenial climate ; and they have 

 lived to their full period in the low lands of Spain. They have 

 also been bred in Hamburg and in England, where the wool 

 seems to improve. The staple of some Alpaca wool from the 

 Earl of Derby's flock, was exhibited in England some ten or 

 twelve years since. This appeared about a foot long, and it 

 was estimated the animal had seventeen pounds of it on his 

 back. 



The meat of the Alpaca has been compared to "venison, and 

 even heath-fed mutton." Its quality could hardly fail to be 

 good as the animal eats nothing but the purest vegetable sub- 

 stance, and in habitual cleanliness, is said to surpass every other 

 animal. The Alpaca is also far less subject to disease than 

 sheep; and as it seldom perspires, the fleece does not require 

 washing before it is taken from the back. 



It has extraordinary foresight of storms, and power to contend 

 with them, so that, in its native climes, seldom is one missing 

 after a tempest. 



The first marketable fabric made from the wool of this animal, 

 was presented at Greetland, near Halifax, (Eng.,) about twenty- 

 five years ago. It was there sold, at a very high price, in the 

 form of ladies' carriage shawls and cloakings, as curiosities. 

 The quantity manufactured and used since that time, has steadily 

 and greatly increased. From Alpaca wool, plain and figured stuffs 

 are produced, which have a beautiful luster. The difficulty which 

 was at first found in dying it, being now overcome, the most deli- 

 cate colors are obtained, such as royal blue, scarlet, green and 

 orange, as seen in the mousseHnes de laines, and other ladies' 

 dresses now in use. The blacks are superior, and the damask 

 patterns very showy in their appearance. In some instances, Al- 

 paca takes the place of Angola, or goat's hair wool ; and in France, 



