HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 155 



They are mild and gentle at all times, except 

 when they are in heat : at that period they are 

 seized with a sort of madness; they eat little, and 

 will sometimes attempt to bite their masters ; so 

 that it is not safe to approach them. 



The Camel arrives at its full strength at the age 

 of six years, and lives forty or fifty. 



The females are not usually put to hard labour, 

 but are allowed to pasture and breed at full liberty. 

 Their time of gestation is nearly twelve months ; 

 and they generally bring forth one at a birth. 



THE LAMA. 

 (Camelus (rlaina^ Linn. Lc Lauia, Buff.) 



Is the Camel of Peru and Chili; and before the 

 conquest of those countries by the Spaniards, was 

 the only beast of burden known to the Indians. Its 

 disposition is mild, gentle, and tractable. 



Before the introduction of Mules, these animals 

 were used by the natives to plough the land, and 

 now serve to carry burdens. They march slowly, 

 and seldom accomplish journies of more than four 

 or five leagues a day; but what they want in speed 

 is made up by perseverance and industry. They 

 travel long journies in countries impassable to 

 most other animals; are very sure-footed; and are 

 much employed in transporting the rich ores, dug 

 out of the mines of Potosi, over the rugged hills and 

 narrow paths of the Andes : Bolivar remarks, that, 

 in his time, three hundred thousand of them were 

 constantly employed in this work. They lie down 

 to be loaded, and, when weary, no blows can excite 

 them to quicken their pace. They neither defend 



