202 Fretp Museum or NaturaAt History — Zoétoey, Vor. X. 
The following account of the hunting of guanacos and vicugnas has 
been contributed by Mr. Collins: 
‘‘Glad we were to reach Mollendo on the west coast of Peru after 
three weeks sailing from New York. Here we unloaded our sixty pieces 
of baggage, and owing to the kindness of the Peruvian officials, due to 
the assistance of the American Minister at Lima, we were passed through 
the customs without any difficulty, no restriction being placed on the 
use of our arms, which we felt would be the case while crossing Peru. 
We were very glad of this as it was our intention to hunt on the high- 
lands for vicugna and guanaco and a small variety of deer. 
““We had just enough time to pass our baggage and catch the train 
which followed the shore for a while and then started to climb to an 
absolutely barren ground. Suddenly upon reaching an altitude of some 
2000 feet we entered the clouds and found a most fertile country, the 
ground being covered with beautiful flowers. A couple of thousand 
feet higher we crossed a table-land almost flat, having a sandy soil, the 
sand being blown by the high winds into numerous dunes, crescentic in 
shape, which were constantly changing their positions. Again we 
climbed and twisted through barren mountains, with here and there 
green, where water was to be found. Finally, we reached Arequipa at 
an altitude of 7500 feet, and here the train stopped for twenty-four 
hours in order to give the passengers an opportunity to become accus- 
tomed to the altitude. 
“The next day we proceeded on our way and at a point 12,500 feet 
above sea level, called Pampa de Arrieros, we left the train, hearing that 
at this point the animals we were desirous of getting were to be found. 
Having finally reached our hunting ground, and with a considerable 
amount of stored up energy after three weeks idleness on the steamer, 
it not yet being noon, we at once made arrangements for mules in 
order to make a hunt that day. After climbing several thousand feet 
higher, we suddenly came in sight of our game. Dismounting and start- 
ing to run after it, we suddenly realized the height at which we had 
arrived, our hearts beating so rapidly that it became impossible for us 
to continue. The rest of the day we traveled at a snail’s pace after the 
game, which always kept in a very tantalizing way within sight but out 
of range. Finding that it would be impossible for us to come up with it, 
we decided to return to our mules and go back to camp. A sudden 
downpour drenched us to the skin, and a little later darkness overtaking 
us, and the chill of night coming on, we suffered intensely from the 
cold. The great heat of the day, the drenching by rain, and the sudden 
chilling of the air brought on all of us attacks of soroche. It was with 
great difficulty that we were enabled to get back to our rooms in the 
