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THE GUANACO. 



Huanacu, which ranges over the whole extent of Patagonia. 

 He measures five feet in height to the crown of the head, 

 and three feet six inches, or less, to the shoulders ; and 

 lives in small herds, numbering from five to thirty, but is 

 sometimes seen in more considerable companies. They 

 resemble sheep in their gregarious habits, and in their 

 servile obedience to the will of a leader. If they should 

 chance to lose the latter, they grow absolutely bewildered, 

 and wandering pell-mell from place to place, fall victims 

 to the watchful hunter. The guanaco is exceedingly shy 

 and timid ; but he is also very curious, and can be drawn 

 towards the hunter by his lying down on the ground and 

 throwing up his feet in the air. But he is a wary animal, 

 and quick of sight, and on seeing man, woman, or child 

 approach his resting-place, utters a shrill, neighing scream, 

 which gives warning to the whole herd, and sets them off 

 at a gallop to seek some remote asylum. 



Of all the llamas, the Yicufia, or Vicugna, may claim 

 the prize for beauty. He inliabits the highlands of Bolivia 

 and Chili, and has never yet been successfully domesti- 

 cated. In size he comes between the llama and the alpaca. 



The vicuna lives near the region of perpetual snow, and 

 resembles the chamois in some of his habits. He goes 

 about in herds, each consisting of one male and from six 

 to fifteen females ; and while the latter are grazing, he 

 stands apart, and watches carefully over their safety. At 

 the approach of danger he gives a signal, consisting of a 

 kind of whistling sound and a rapid movement of the feet. 

 Immediately the herd draw close together, each animal 



