330 MAMMALIA— PA CO. 



These useful, and even necessary animals, are attended with no expense 

 to their masters. For, as they are cloven footed, they do not require to be 

 shod, nor do they require to be housed, as their wool supplies them with a 

 warm covering. Satisfied with a small portion of vegetables and grass, 

 they want neither corn nor hay to subsist upon. They are still more 

 moderate in what they drink ; as their mouths are continually moistened 

 with saliva, which they have in a greater quantity than any other animal. 

 The natives hunt the guanaco, which is the llama in a wild state, for the 

 sake of its fleece. The dogs have much trouble to follow them ; and, if 

 they do not come up with them before they gain the rocks, both the hunters 

 and dogs are obliged to desist in their pursuit. 



The llama is in general a timid and docile animal. If teased, or ill 

 treated, however, it becomes spiteful. Their mode of manifesting their 

 anger is singular ; it consists in darting their saliva in considerable quantity 

 upon the person who offends theiji. They will cover with it a surface of 

 three or four yards in extent. In the wood cut, one of the animals is 

 represented in the act of thus showing his displeasure. It has been assert- 

 ed that the saliva is venomous, but this is an error. 



THE P AC 01 



Stands in much the same relation to the llama, that the ass does to the 

 horse. He is smaller, and not so serviceable ; but his fleece is more useful. 

 His wool is fine and long, and is a sort of merchandise as valuable as silk. 

 The natural color of the paco is that of a dried rose-leaf, which is so fixed 

 that it undergoes no alteration under the hands of the manufacturers. 

 They not only make good gloves and stockings of this wool, but also form 

 it into quilts and carpets, which bring a higher price, and exceed those 

 of the Levant. 



The pacos also resemble the llamas in their form, excepting that their 

 legs are shorter, and their muzzle thicker and closer. They inhabit and 

 climb over tire highest parts of the mountains. The snow and ice seem 

 rather agreeable than inconvenient to them. When wild, they keep 

 together in flocks, and run very swift ; and as soon as they perceive a 

 stranger, they take flight, driving their young before them. The ancient 

 monarchs of Peru rigorously prohibited the hunting of them, as they multi- 

 ply but slowly. But since the arrival of the Spaniards in these parts, their 

 number is greatly decreased, so that at present there are very few remain- 

 ing. The flesh of these animals is not so good as that of the guanacos ; 

 and they are only sought after for their fleece, and the bezoar they produce. 



' Auchenia vicimiia. Lin. 



