The Camel Tribe and the Chevrotains 



307 



t 



endurance. This is the more noteworthy since the young of the camel are exceedingly 

 helpless. 



Vicunas 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, wliich, 

 fluttering in the wind, apjiear to deter the captives from breaking through. 



The Guanaco. 



This is larger than the vicuna, 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 jMr. Darwin points 

 out, the behaviour of guanaco when alarmed is very contradictory. At one time they will 

 sound the danger-signal, and pjut 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 ad\'antage 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 

 apj)roached, 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 

 domesticated, and I have seen 

 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 fi-om 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 



GUAXACO. 

 The wild original uf the llama and alpaca. 



