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TROPICAL AMERICA AND ITS ANIMALS 



Guanaco and Although originally a northern type, the guanaco and vicuna — 



Llamas. ^he N ew World wild representatives of the camels — are now charac- 

 teristic South American ruminants restricted to the western and southern districts, 

 and thrive only in temperate climates. The larger of the two is the guanaco 

 (Lama guanacus), whose range extends from the mountains of Ecuador and Peru 

 to the plains of Patagonia and the islands of Tierra del Fuego. Guanaco are not 

 infrequently seen in large herds numbering up to five hundred, and though they 

 seem here and there able to exist without fresh water altogether, they take to 

 water without hesitation, and are excellent swimmers, having been seen swimming 

 in the sea from island to island. 





A HEliD OF ALPACAS. 



Young guanaco are easily tamed, and easily breed in captivity, which explains 

 the fact that from this species have originated the two domesticated breeds known 

 as the llama and alpaca. The alpaca (L. pacos) is kept the whole year round in 

 large herds in the highlands of Bolivia and southern Peru, and only driven into 

 the villages to be shorn. It is bred for the sake of its, generally black or blackish 

 brown, wool, which is so long that in some cases it reaches the ground. The coat 

 of the alpaca is long all over the body, and in many cases there are none of the 

 bare patches on the legs characteristic of the guanaco, but not of the vicuna, these 

 being overgrown with wool. 



The llama (L. glama), on the other hand, is used as a beast of burden, its 

 hair being comparatively short, and hanging but a little way down the flanks. 

 In colour it is much more varied than the alpaca, being seldom entirely brown or 



