2G5 



about seven feet, and (lie height, measured before, 

 four feet and three inches. The body is covered 

 with very long liair, of a reddish colour upon the 

 back, and whitish under the belly ; its head is 

 round, the nosepointed andblack, the ears straight 

 like those of a horse, the tail short, and turned 

 back like that of the stag. The name giianaco, 

 by which it is commonly known, is Peruvian ; 

 it is called luan in Chili. The guanaco appears 

 to be less attached to a cold climate than the vi- 

 cugna. In the beginning of winter these ani- 

 mals quit the mountains they inhabit during the 

 summer, and appear in the valleys in large herds, 

 usually of a hundred or two hundred. The 

 Chilians hunt them with dogs, but they commonly 

 take only the youngest, which are the least swift; 

 the old ones run with astonishing rapidity, and it 

 is difficult to overtake them with a good horse. 

 When they are pursued, they turn from time to 

 time to look at the huntsman, neighing as loud as 

 they can, and then set off anew with incre-ased 

 velocity. It sometimes happens that the Indians, 

 who are mounted upon very swift horses, take 

 them alive, by means of a noose or sling, which 

 they throw from a distance between their leo-s. 

 This noose, which the Indians call /g2//, is made 

 of a strip of leather, about five or six feet long; 

 to each end of which is fastened a stone of 

 about two pounds weight. The huntsman, who 

 is on horseback, holds one of these stones in hi< 

 hand, and whirls the other around like a slina;. 



