THE GUANACO AND VICUNA. 335 



and it is only when brought to the Indian huts very young that they 

 can be separated from their flocks. 



The largest animal of this tribe is the Huanacu or Guanaco. He 

 measures five feet from the bottom of the hoof to the top of the head, 

 and three feet three inches to the shoulders. So nearly does he resemble 

 the llama in form that, until very recently, zoologists supposed the 

 latter to be an improved species of the huanacu, and that the huanacu 

 was neither more nor less than a wild llama. But there are specific 

 differences between them. The huanacu is of a uniform reddish- 

 brown colour on the neck, back, and .thighs. The under part of the 

 body, the middle line of the breast, and the inner side of the limbs 

 are of a dingy white. The wool is shorter and coarser than that of 

 the llama, and of nearly uniform length on all parts of the body. The 

 huanacus assemble in small herds of five or seven, and if taken very 

 young may be tamed, but can with difficulty be trained as beasts of 

 burden. 



The Vicuna is a more beautiful animal than either of the pre- 

 ceding. His size is a medium between that of the llama and alpaca. 

 He measures four feet one inch to the top of the head, and two feet 

 six inches to the top of the shoulders. He is distinguished by his 

 longer and shapelier neck, by the superior fineness of his short curly 

 wool. The crown of the head, the upper part of the neck, the 

 back, and thighs are of a peculiar reddish-yellow hue, which the 

 natives call color de vicuna. The lower part of the neck and the 

 inner parts of the limbs are of a bright ochreous colour, and the breast 

 and lower part of the body white. 



During the wet season the vicuna browses on the scanty vegeta- 

 tion of the Cordilleran ridges. He never ventures up to the bare 

 rocky summits, for his hoofs, being accustomed only to the yielding 

 sward, are very soft and tender. He lives in herds, consisting of from 

 six to fifteen females, and one male, who is the protector and leader 

 of the herd, and who, while the females graze, stands a few paces 

 apart, carefully \vatching over their safety. At the approach of dan- 

 ger he gives a signal, consisting of a kind of whistling sound and a 



