58 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



the Menagerie at Paris, measured three feet two inches 

 and a half at the shoulder, four feet three and an half to 

 the summit of the head, and three feet nine from the 

 breast to the tail. It was a female, extremely gentle, 

 but timid. It would blow and spit at strangers, move 

 in a canter, deposite its dung in one spot always as far as 

 possible from the stable, and bleat like a young lamb. 

 The positive character by which it was clearly distinguish- 

 able was the total absence of all callosities on the sternum 

 and limbs. The colour of the neck, back, flanks, and 

 breast, was fulvous-brown, tail brown, head mostly gray, 

 darker on the nose, and rusty behind the ears, where there 

 was a white spot. The legs and feet were dark; inside 

 of the thighs white ; from the nape of the neck all over 

 the body and tail the hair was long, soft, and woolly, of 

 a delicacy and elasticity approaching that of the Angora 

 Goat, and so abundant as to give the figure of the animal a 

 clumsy appearance. The able naturalist above quoted ob- 

 serves with great judgment upon the advantages that might 

 be derived from the introduction of this species in our do- 

 mestic establishments, both as an article of food and a ma- 

 nufacturing object. 



The Vicunna. (Camelus Vicugna, Lin.) This animal 

 was originally described by Count de Buffon, Suppl. 

 vi. p. 215: this species most celebrated of all the genus, 

 for the fineness of the wool it affords the manufacturer, 

 inhabits the highest points of the Southern Andes. In 

 size, it is much below the others, not measuring more 

 than two feet eight inches at the shoulder ; light of form, 

 short body, with a long straight neck, elevated croup, and 

 in general shaped like the former, excepting that the eyes 

 in proportion are very large, dark, and prominent, and the 

 face and nose small and rounded. It exhibits great live- 

 liness and even vehemence of character, but is easily inti- 

 midated, even to stupor. 



