258 MAMMALIA. 



Guanaco seu Huanacu, Laet. Nov. Orb. 406, 16,33 ; Ovallc, Chili, 



44 ; Ulloa, Voy. i. 366. t. 24. f. 5; Shaw, Zool. ii. 246. t. 169, 



170. 



Guianicoes, Hawkesw. Voy. 

 Guanaco, Byron, Voy. round the World; Darwin, Zool. Beagle, 



Mamm. 26. 

 Hab. Peruvian Alps ; the Pampas and mountains in Chili, Men- 



doza, and Straits of Maghellan. 



Adult. Presented by Sir William Burnett and Capt. Fitzroy, 

 R.N. 



Adult. S. America. Presented by Charles Darwin, Esq. 

 Half-grown. S. America. 



OSTEOLOGY, t. 24. f. 1. 



Skeleton. Chili. 



Skull. Chili. From Mr. Bridges' Collection. 



Two skulls. Chili. 



Skull. From the Zoological Society's Collection. 



The Guanaco or Wild Llama is the characteristic quadruped 

 of the plains of Patagonia; it is very common over the whole of 

 the temperate part of the continent, as far south as the islands 

 near Cape Horn. It generally lives in small herds, of from half 

 a dozen to thirty in each ; but on the bank of the St. Cruz we 

 saw one herd which must have contained at least 500. They are 

 generally wild and extremely wary. If, however, by chance the 

 sportsman abruptly meet a single animal, or several together, 

 they will generally stand motionless and intensely gaze at him, 

 then perhaps move a few yards, turn round and look again. 

 They are curious ; for if a person lies on the ground and plays 

 strange antics, such as throwing up his feet in the air, they will 

 almost always approach by degrees to reconnoitre him : this ar- 

 tifice has the advantage of allowing several shots to be tired, 

 which are all taken as part of the performance. On the moun- 

 tains of Tierra de Fuego, I have more than once seen a Guanaco 

 on being approached not only neigh and squeal, but prance and 

 leap about in the most ridiculous manner, apparently in defiance 

 as a challenge. 



The Wild Guanaco are very easily domesticated, and I have 

 seen some thus kept in Northern Patagonia near a house, though 

 not under any restraint. They are in this state very bold, and 

 readily attack a man by striking him from behind with both 

 knees. It is asserted that the motive for these attacks is jealousy 

 on account of the females. 



The Wild Guanacos, however, have no idea of defence ; even 

 a single dog will secure one of these large animals till the hunts- 

 man can come up. 



