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and more elegant than those of the camel ; the 

 nose issmoothjtheneck straighter and better pro- 

 portioncd;, the back more levels except the gua- 

 naco's^ which is a little arched, the tail hand- 

 somer;, and supplied with agreater qnantitjof hair^ 

 the legs are better shaped and fitted for running, 

 and the hair on their bodies is longer, softer, and 

 more like wool. Placed by the side of one of 

 these animq.ls, the camel would appear like a 

 monster. Their natural cry resembles the neigh- 

 ing of a horse. To defend themselves they em- 

 ploy their saliva, which they throw upon those 

 who molest them. It is asserted, but it appears 

 to be without foundation, tliat this saliva is 

 naturally caustic, and produces blisters upon the 

 skin. 



They are in heat in the latter part of summer, 

 during which time they become vcrv thin, and 

 shed their hair. Before copulation thev make 

 much noise, throw out their saliva, and appear to 

 be mad. The female has two dugs, which are 

 always well filled with milk ; her period of gesta- 

 tion is five or six months, and she produces hut one 

 young at a birth. These three kinds of animals 

 mutually avoid each other, nor have they ever 

 been known to copulate. To what ;;t;c they live 

 I am unable precisely to determine, though I 

 believe them shorter lived than tlvj camel ; the 

 period generally assigned them by the Chilians is 

 thirty years- 



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