THE CAMEL TRIBE AND THE CHEVROTAINS 271 
endurance. This is the more noteworthy since the young of the camel are exceedingly 
helpless. 
Vicufias are hunted by the Indians and captured by driving them into an enclosure of 
perhaps half a mile in diameter. This is hung round with bits of coloured rag, which, 
fluttering in the wind, appear to deter the captives from breaking through. 
THE GUANACO 
This is larger than the vicufia, and is described as an elegant animal, being possessed 
of a long, slender, gracefully curved neck and fine legs. It ranges from the highlands of the 
Andes to the plains of Patagonia and the islands of Tierra del Fuego. As Mr. Darwin points 
out, the behaviour of guanaco when alarmed is very contradictory. At one time they will 
sound the danger-signal, and put themselves out of harm’s way long before the enemy has 
perceived them; at another they exhibit the most extraordinary curiosity, and pay the death- 
penalty in consequence. ‘That they are curious is certain; for if a person lies on the ground 
and plays strange antics, such 
as throwing up his feet in 
the air, they will almost 
always approach by degrees 
to reconnoitre him. It was 
an artifice that was repeatedly 
practised by our sportsmen 
with success, and it had, 
moreover, the advantage of 
allowing several shots to be 
fired, which were all taken as 
part of the performance. On 
the mountains of Tierra del 
Fuego, I have more than 
once seen a guanaco, on being 
approached, not only neigh 
and squeal, but prance and 
leap about in the most ridi- 
culous manner, apparently in 
defiance, as a_ challenge. 
These animals are very easily GUANACO 
domesticated, and I have seen The wild original of the llama and alpaca 
some thus kept in Northern 
Patagonia near a house, though not under any restraint. They are in this state very bold, 
and readily attack a man by striking him from behind with both knees. The wild guanacos, 
however, have no idea of defence; even a single dog will secure one of these large animals till 
the huntsmen can come up. In many of their habits they are like sheep in a flock. . Thus, 
when they see men approaching in several directions on horseback, they soon become bewildered, 
and know not which way to run. This greatly facilitates the Indian method of hunting, for 
they are thus easily driven to a central point, and are encompassed,” 
Guanacos readily take to the water, and have been frequently seen swimming from one 
island to another. Here again the llamas differ from the camels, for these can swim but 
little, if at all. Like the Bactrian camel, the guanaco can drink salt water with impunity. 
One of the most remarkable traits of the guanaco is that which induces it, when it feels 
its end to be near, to seek out the dying-place of the tribe, and there breathe out its last. 
“The guanacos,” says Mr. Darwin, “appear to have favourite spots for lying down to die. On 
the banks of the St. Cruz, in certain circumscribed places, which were generally bushy and all 
near the river, the ground was actually white with bones. On one such spot I counted 
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