THE VICUNA. 529 



for wearing well and having a smooth surface. The Incas of Peru had 

 great masters in the textile art. The most skilful lived near the Lake of 

 Titicaca. They dyed the wool with various herbs. The present Indians 

 have lost the art, except in its ruder manufactures of coverlets and cloaks. 

 The best wool is sent to Europe, where, as we all know, it is spun and 

 woven into a variety of articles. 



All attempts to acclimatize Alpacas in Europe have failed. Nor do 

 they succeed any better in Australia. An Englishman named Leeds was 

 sent out by the government of New South Wales to procure the animals 

 from Bolivia. But the Bolivian government forbade the exportation, 

 and only after great difficulties did he manage to ship three hundred 

 Alpacas. Five years later, after the government had spent fifteen 

 thousand pounds, scarcely a dozen of the animals were alive, while the 

 young ones born from the imported ancestors were in a very poor con- 

 dition. There are, however, many places where they might be domes- 

 ticated, but it is not worth the while to do so, such places being already 

 occupied by more profitable animals. The Alpacas are enduring, require 

 little attention, and breed fast, and in addition to their wool supply good 

 flesh. They are never used for carrying burdens, but kept solely for the 

 hair and flesh. To obtain the former, the herds are annually driven in 

 and shorn, which is no light task with an animal so full of natural 

 obstinacy. The shearing over, they are again turned loose. 



THE VICUNA. 



The VicuSJa, Auchcnia vicuna (Plate XXXIX), is intermediate in 

 height between the Llama and the Alpaca. It is distinguished by its 

 short, kinky wool, of exceptional fineness. The top of the head, the back 

 of the neck, the back and loins, are covered with hair of a peculiar red- 

 dish-yellow color. The lower side of the neck and of the limbs are of a 

 bright ochre-yellow ; the hair on the breast and stomach, which measures 

 nearly five inches, is white. The Vicunas in the rainy season seek the 

 crest of the Cordilleras ; but they avoid stony districts, because their 

 hoofs are tender. In summer they revisit the lowlands, following the 

 supply of food. They browse all day long. The herds consist of a male 

 and five or six females, the former always keeping watch. He gives the 

 alarm at the sight of danger, and when the herd retreats, covers the rear. 

 67 



