ORDER RUMINANTIA. 59 



A specimen which fell under our observation in South 

 America was of the above dimensions. On the back and 

 sides it was of a reddish-brown, or dried rose leaf colour ; 

 the breast, belly, inside of the thighs, cheeks, and outer 

 surface of the ears, and under part of the tail, were white, 

 interspersed with buff ; the limbs were dun. It refused 

 water, was petulant, and would offer to bite ; seemed to 

 bear the heat of a tropical sea-shore with uneasiness, and 

 preferred sweet potatoes to other vegetables, although 

 from the natural abode of the species, Lichens must be its 

 usual food. 



The fleece of these animals, well known in commerce, is 

 an object of importance in South America ; but then ative 

 Indians and the settlers in the country, alike indolent and 

 improvident, prefer the destruction of the animals in the 

 chase, to the more profitable and lasting advantage of rear- 

 ing them in flocks. It is however to be expected, that the 

 political changes which South America has undergone, may 

 introduce a more rational and a more enlightened practice. 

 The mode hitherto adopted to obtain them, it is said, was 

 by stretching ropes, to which bunches of feathers were at- 

 tached, across the passes of the valleys below their abodes, 

 and driving them down in the required direction, till they 

 came upon these objects, when (similar to the Fallow-deer 

 of Europe) the herd would stop in terror at the fluttering 

 of the feathers, and wait to be slain or noosed by the Lazzo, 

 or even taken by the hand, unless an Alpaco were among 

 them, who, not intimidated by this contrivance, would leap 

 over, and then the whole would instantly follow its ex- 

 ample. 



The Musks. (Moschus, Lin.) 



The animals included in this genus assimilate in so many 

 particulars with the Deer, that they have been classed with 

 propriety in the same family, succeeding in the first place 

 the ruminants of the Cameline group, because they are, 



F2 



