526 UNGULATA. 



covers the body ; it consists of a short, fine layer of wool, through which 

 grows longer and thinner hair. This coat is short on the face, but on all 

 other parts of the animal except the legs, forms a wool-like fleece, which, 

 however, is never as fine as that of^the Llama. The general color is 

 reddish-brown. 



The Guanaco extends along the Cordilleras from the island of Tierra 

 del Fuego to Northern Peru, and is especially abundant in the southern 

 part of the chain of the Andes. It prefers mountain plateaux, but Dar- 

 win found it in great herds in the low plains of Southern Patagonia. It 

 ascends, during spring, when the herbage is coming up at high eleva- 

 tions, as far as the line of eternal snow, but in the dry season it returns 

 to the lower valleys. It avoids the snow-fields ; its feet are not adapted 

 for walking on the slippery surface. At times the Guanacos make long 

 journeyings, and Darwin saw herds of them on the coast at Bahia 

 Blanca. They are not afraid of the sea, and swim fearlessly. 



The herds usually consist of from twelve to thirty members, although 

 one of five hundred has been seen. Generally the herd consists of females 

 under the guidance of an old male. It wanders by day from one valley 

 to another, browsing with pauses ; it never feeds by night. It seeks a 

 drinking-place morning and evening, and the Guanacos seem to prefer 

 brackish water to fresh. The movements of these animals are quick and 

 lively, although they have not the speed often attributed to them ; a good 

 horse can soon overtake them. Their gait is a short gallop, and is, like 

 the camel's, apace. They climb admirably, and run like the chamois on 

 the verge of the steepest precipices, where a man cannot find standing- 

 room. When reposing, they lie down like the camel on the breast and 

 legs, and chew their cud in a dreamy state of complacency. 



The Guanacos are usually shy and wild, flying away when anything 

 suspicious comes in sight. The leader of the herd precedes it by some 

 paces, and keeps a good look-out while the females are feeding. When 

 danger is approaching, he sets up a neighing scream, and all the flock 

 takes flight, the leader bringing up the rear. Like many animals, how- 

 ever, they are curious, and Darwin says that if the hunter lies on the 

 ground and kicks his legs in the air, they will draw near to see what 

 strange creature it may be ; even the report of his rifle does not frighten 

 them, they think it part of the perfcrmance. 



The Guanaco, in common with the other species, is rather short- 

 tempered, and has a very unpleasant habit of displaying its anger by 



