CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 9. RUMINANTIA. 



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Genus LLAMA, or LAMA : Auchenia. — These animals, which appear like small camels, and 

 represent these animals in the New World, are, however, readily distinguished from them, not 

 only by the difference of size, but by the absence of dorsal humps and the complete division of 

 the toes. This structure of the feet does not adapt them for traveling over such sandy wastes as 

 form the natural home of the camel, but for dwelling on mountains and among rocks, where, in 

 point of fact, their footing is more sure than that of most other animals. Their form is lighter and 

 more elegant than that of the camel ; they are not only smaller, but far inferior to their eastern 

 relatives in strength. Their native region is upon the slopes of the immense chain of the Andes, 

 in South America, on all parts of which they occur ; and although inhabitants of tropical cli- 

 mates, they are very impatient of heat, and often ascend into the vicinity of the line of perpetual 

 snow. The wild lamas are very vigilant and shy ; they live in flocks at a great altitude upon 

 the mountains, and only descend toward the plains occasionally in search of food. Both the wild 

 and the tame lamas have the singular habit of always, when practicable, dropping tbeir dang 

 in the same place, so that considerable heaps of excrement are found in particular spots ; the wild 

 ones have also been observed to retire in the same way to a particular spot to die, and in some 

 places it is said portions of the banks of rivers may be seen almost whitened with their bones. 

 When irritated, they eject the contents of their mouths, consisting of food undergoing its second 

 mastication, upon the offending party ; this is doubtless exceedingly disagreeable, but the popular 

 belief in the venomous nature of the substance discharged is destitute of foundation. 



Considerable doubts exist as to the number of distinct species of lamas. It has been supposed 

 that there are four species, but some zoologists reduce them to two, considering the others as domes- 

 ticated varieties. Other writers, on the contrary, increase the number to five or even six. There 

 appear, however, to be three species, the true Lama, the Paco, and* the Vicuna. The term 

 Lama — equivalent to cattle — is applied by the natives to all these kinds. The name of Peruvian 

 Sheep was given to them by the early European settlers. 



The Guaxaco, or Huanaco, A. Guanaco, is regarded as the wild stock from which the true 

 lama is derived. They stand rather more than three feet high at the shoulder, and the neck, 



