162 ZOOLOGY. 



found them in numbers from one to hundreds. The guasos did not relate having themselves 

 witnessed these contests. 



" Though the times of my visits to the mountains ranged through several months of the 

 year, I cannot determine what is their season of hearing young ; for I found them at all times, 

 of every size and apparent age, from the recent born to the veteran of the herd, whose woolly 

 covering had been bleached to an almost snowy white by the storms and tempests of many 

 winters. 



" The Guanaco does not range indiscriminately over the Chilean Andes, but has favorite 

 haunts which it never forsakes; and there are extensive regions where it is never found. 



" The common people of the country hunt them by forming rodeos — that is to say, numbers 

 go into the mountains, and having formed a large circuit about some place previously selected 

 as favorable for the purpose, they gradually drive all the animals within the circuit towards 

 this, and closing up, finally have them surrounded at close quarters, more often floundering in 

 the deep snow at the bottom of a ravine, the passes from which are blocked up, where they fall 

 an easy prey, and are killed by dogs, lassos, &c. These people dry the meat, use the skins, 

 and sell the bezoars. I have tried the flesh, and though not partial to it, could live upon it if 

 hard pushed." 



