THE GUANACO. 43 



PATAGONIA. 



ally stand motionless and intently gaze at him ; then per- 

 haps move on a few yards, turn round, and look again. 

 What is the cause of this difference in their shyness? Do 

 they mistake a man in the distance for their chief enemy, 

 the puma? or does curiosity overcome their timidity? That 

 they are curious is certain ; for if a person lies on the ground, 

 and plays strange antics, such as throwing up his feet in 

 the air, they will almost always approach by degrees to ex- 

 amine him. It was a trick repeatedly practised by our 

 sportsmen with success, and it had, moreover, the advantage 

 of allowing several shots to be fired, which were all taken 

 as parts of the performance. On the mountains of Tierra 

 del Fuego I have more than once seen a guanaco, on being 

 approached, not only neigh and squeal, but prance and leap 

 about in the most ridiculous manner, apparently in defiance, 

 as a challenge. These animals are very easily tamed, and 

 I have seen some thus kept in Patagonia near a house, 

 though not under any restraint. They are in this state 

 very bold, and readily attack a man by striking him be- 

 hind with both knees. The wild guanacos, however, have 

 no idea of defence; even a single dog will secure one of 

 these large animals till the huntsman can come up. In 

 many of their habits they are like sheep in a flock. Thus, 

 when they see men approaching in several directions on 

 horseback, they soon become bewildered, and know not which 

 way to run. This greatly favors the Indian mode of hunt- 

 ing, for they are thus easily driven to a central point and 

 surrounded. 



The guanacos readily take to the water; several times 



