HABITS OF THE VICUNIA 
length of some two feet. The annually shorn fleece is about eight inches 
in length. The fiber is small but strong, elastic, very lustrous and silky, 
and highly valued for weaving warm and fine’cloth. The natives of the 
Andes have made use of it from time immemorial for their ponchos or 
blankets, remains of which have been found in the oldest graves of the 
period of the Incas; but it was not until 1836 that the wool began to be 
exported to Europe and the manu- 
facture of alpaca shawls, cloth, 
etc., regularly began.” *° 
A different species from 
the huanaco and its varicties 
is the Andean vicunia, and 
it is a handsomer animal 
than the others. In size it is 
between the llama and the 
paco, and is distinguished by 
a longer, more slender neck, 
and thesuperior natural fine- 
ness of the soft, curly wool. 
The crown of the head, the 
upper part of the neck, the 
back and thighs, are of a peculiar reddish yellow hue locally 
called “color de vicufia.” The lower part of the neck and 
inside of the limbs are bright ocher, and the abdomen white. 
This animal is a true mountaineer, inhabiting the heights 
of the Cordillera wherever pasturage can be found short of 
the naked summit-rocks, and is as alert and wary as mountain 
goats. Tschudi tells us that the male who leads the band keeps 
a watchful guard over his family, and on a suspicion of danger 
signals the alarm by a whistling sound and stamping of the foot, 
whereupon all take to flight. 
The Indians from time immemorial have taken them by a 
method called ‘‘chacu.” <A large company go up a mountain 
and build a great pound formed by a rope dangling with colored 
rags and stretched on low posts. Then a wide space of the 
34! 
A VICUNIA, 
