NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Observations. 



CHAP. XL 



" Where craggy rocks in rude disorder frown/ 

 And oft the loosen'd mass comes thund'ringdown/ 

 The patient lama bears his heavy load, 

 Nor dreads the dangers of the horrid road." 



THE LAMA. 



IT is a singular fact that although the animals 

 of this species are domestic in Peru, Chili, and 

 Mexico, as horses are in Europe, or camels in 

 Arabia; we know but little respecting them. It 

 is, indeed, pretended that they cannot be trans- 

 ported into Europe, nor even be removed from 

 their native mountains, without risking their lives 

 in a short time. But as the Spaniards have so 

 long had possession of the country, and as many 

 literary characters have long resided at Lima, 

 Quito, and several other towns, they might, with- 

 out any inconvenience, have designed, described, 

 and dissected these animals. Acosta, and Gre- 

 goirc de Bolivar have taken the trouble to collect 



