326 WILD BEASTS OF THE WOULD 



salt water or none at all. For all their hardiness, however, the severe 

 winters of Patagonia are often too much for the Guanacoes, and in 

 many places there may be found large deposits of the bones of the 

 unfortunate animals, generally in some sheltered locality near water, 

 whereto they have resorted in the vain hope of picking up some 

 nourishment. 



Guanacoes are essentially gregarious, and are usually seen in large 

 herds; one buck will accumulate a harem sometimes numbering as 

 many as a hundred does; but this he does not manage without a 

 struggle ; for, in spite of their harmless and innocent appearance, these 

 creatures are savage and quarrelsome to a degree, and any old veteran 

 is pretty certain to be well marked with scratches from the teeth of 

 former rivals, especially about the neck, which is the main point of 

 attack. As, however, the skin here is very thick, the combatants cannot 

 hurt each other very seriously. The Guanaco also attacks by rearing 

 and striking its adversary with its knees ; besides which it spits freely, 

 though one would think that this method of offence would not much 

 impress a serious enemy, though disconcerting enough to a visitor to 

 a menagerie. The note of the animal is a laugh or neigh, and the 

 buck will often thus challenge intruders on his domain, for, though 

 wary when it has been at all hunted, the Guanaco is very inquisitive, 

 and has some idea of resenting the intrusion of strangers. 



Its natural enemy is the Puma, which, where they occur together, 

 makes it a principal object of pursuit, springing on it and breaking its 

 neck ; sometimes the Guanaco will make a brave resistance to its foe, 

 but very seldom with success. The young are also attacked t by the 

 Colpeo (Cams magellanicus), a large, Wolf-like Fox; but this animal 

 does not range far out on the plains. The Patagonian Indians — now, 

 alas ! sadly reduced in number — also hunt the Guanaco keenly, as it 

 forms their principal means of subsistence. It is true that its flesh, 

 which is like lean mutton, is not so much esteemed by them as that 

 of the "Ostrich" of Patagonia— really Darwin's Rhea (Rhea darwinii), 

 which is more palatable and nourishing ; but as the bird is much 

 more wary, it is often a case of Guanaco venison or nothing ; and 



