30 ASPECTS OF TROPICAL NATURE 



scend to seek their food along the sources and swampy grounds. 

 From six to fifteen she-vicunas live under the protection and 

 guidance of a single male, who always remains a few paces 

 apart from his harem, and keeps watch with the most attentive 

 care. At the least approach of danger he immediately gives 

 the alarm by a shrill cry, and rapidly steps forward. The 

 herd, immediately assembling, turns inquisitively towards the 

 side whence danger is apprehended, advances a few paces, and 

 then, suddenly wheeling, flies, at first slowly, and constantly 

 looking back, but soon with unrivalled swiftuess. The male 

 covers the retreat, frequently standing still and watching the 

 enemy. The females reward this faithful care of their leader 

 with an equally rare attachment ; for when he is wounded or 

 killed, they will keep running round him with shrill notes of 

 sorrow, and rather be shot than flee. But when a bullet 

 strikes a female, the whole troop continues its flight with 

 increased velocity. 



The cry of the vicuna is a peculiar sharp piping or whistling, 

 which, though greatly resembling the shrill neighing of the 

 llama and the other American camelides, may easily be dis- 

 tinguished by a practised ear, when it suddenly pierces the thin 

 air of the Puna, even from a distance where the sharpest eye is 

 no longer able to distinguish the form of the animal. Like 

 their native congeners and the camels of the old world, the 

 vicunas have the habit of ejecting a quantity of saliva and half- 

 digested food upon those that come within their reach. The 

 llamas and huanacus, however, only do so when angry or at- 

 tacked ; while the alpacas and vicunas spitefully bespatter the 

 harmless passer-by, and generally aim at the face, which they 

 seldom miss. The ejected mass, which has a disgusting sriiell, 

 imparts a deep green colour to the skin, which can only be 

 cleaned with difficulty. 



The hunting of the vicuiias, which is very singular and 

 interesting, takes place in April or May. Each family in the 

 Puna villages is obliged to furnish the contingent of one of its 

 members at least ; and the widows accompany the hunters, to 

 serve as cooks. The whole troop, frequently consisting of 

 seventy or eighty persons, and carrying bundles of poles 

 and large quantities of cordage, sets out for the more elevated 

 plateaus of the Puna, where the vicuiias are grazing. In an 



