THE LLAMA, OR GUANACO. 333 



new continent ; and immense herds of the latter species, together 

 with troops of horses and mules, people the Llanos and Pampas of 

 South America, where the first conquerors had only met with herds 

 of stags (Cervus Mexicanus), llamas, and cobiais. 



The Llama, or Guanaco (Auckenia llama), and his congeners, the 

 Vicuna and the Alpaca (Auckenia), are now only found among the 

 recesses of the Andes, their native country, to which they have re- 

 treated before the restless advance of man. In describing them I 

 shall freely avail myself of Dr. Von Tschudi's interesting notices.* 



The Llama measures from the sole of the hoof to the top of the 

 head, four feet six to eight inches; from the sole of the hoof to the 

 shoulders, from two feet eleven inches to three feet. The female is 

 usually smaller and less strong than the male, but her wool is finer 

 and better. A great variety of colour prevails; the more general is 

 brown, with shades of yellow or black ; frequently speckled, but very 

 rarely quite white or black. The speckled brown llama is, in some 

 districts, called the moromoro 



The burden carried by this useful animal, the camel of the New 

 World, should not exceed from one hundred to one hundred and 

 twenty-five pounds. If the load be too heavy, he lies down, and no 

 force or persuasion will induce him to resume his journey until the 

 excess be removed. In the silver mines his utility is very great, as 

 he frequently carries the metal from the mines in places where the 

 declivities are so steep that neither asses nor mules can keep their 

 footing. His abstemiousness is remarkable, and he will not feed 

 during the night. 



" A flock of llamas journeying over the table-lands," says Dr. Von 

 Tschudi, "is a beautiful sight. They proceed at a slow and measured 

 pace, gazing eagerly around on every side. When any strange object 

 scares them, the flock separates, and disperses in various directions, and 

 the arrieros have no little difficulty in re-assembling them. The Indians 

 are very fond of these animals. They adorn them by tying bows of 

 ribbons to their ears, and hanging bells round their necks; and before 

 * Dr. Von Tschudi, " Travels in Peru " (London, 1847). 



