164 Zoology of the International Exhibition. 



The flock of 276 was landed at Sydney in November 1858, and 

 in spite of some deaths immediately on arrival, in the following 

 month of April the flock numbered 284, consisting of 46 pure 

 male alpacas, 38 pure female alpacas, 110 pure female lamas, 27 

 females cross between alpacas and lamas first generation, 11 

 females from male alpacas and females from first cross, 5 females 

 from male alpacas and females from second cross ; 40 lambs 

 first, second, and third cross ; 5 male vicunas, 1 female vicuna, 

 1 male gelded lama carrier. These animals have thriven beyond 

 expectation, and the various crosses, and the right kinds of 

 crosses, promise to become subjects as fruitful of discussion as 

 those relating to the various breeds of sheep. The colony of 

 Victoria obtained alpacas by a quite different process. A person 

 named Gee speculated in a flock which he took to New York, 

 thence to Glasgow, Birmingham, and London. At London 

 some of the animals were sold to Mr. Palliser, Miss Coutts, and 

 Mr. G. Lloyd. Mr . Wilson, editor of the Melbourne Argus, bought 

 the remaining thirty animals at £23 per head, and shipped them 

 for Melbourne, where they have increased, multiplied, and are 

 now rendering good profit to their owners. That lamas, alpacas, 

 and vicunas should interbreed is neither new nor curious infor- 

 mation, for the probabilities are many and strong that they are 

 all varieties of one cameline type, differing from the camel chiefly 

 in the structure of the foot, which in these is adapted for climb- 

 ing, and in the absence in the lamas of two small false molars 

 from each jaw. But the breeders of Melbourne and Sydney may 

 work out an interesting zoological problem, and perhaps origi- 

 nate an additional source of national wealth, in ascertaining if 

 the lama and the camel can be made to furnish mules, for it is 

 just such an intermediate form as might be expected from the 

 cross that is wanted for conveying the baggage of exploring 

 parties in the interior. 



Among miscellaneous contributions there are stuffed animals 

 of all kinds and from all places. Generally, birds are well done. 

 The British birds from G. B. Ashmead (Educational department), 

 (5588), A. Bartlett (5589), and W. Short (5611), are admirable 

 examples of what may be done for the introduction of natural 

 history studies in schools and families. But the most interest- 

 ing exhibition of this kind is in the French Court, where M. 

 Florent Prevost exhibits specimens of all the small birds of 

 Erance, accompanied with preparations of their stomachs and 

 samples of the food they eat. This beautiful collection is accom- 

 panied with copies of a pamphlet for free distribution among- 

 visitors by the Societe cV Acclimatation. The pamphlet is en- 

 titled De la destruction du Hanneton (Maybug) et de son 

 emjploi pour la noumture des jeunes oiseaux. If birds are 

 well done we cannot say the same for larger animals. The lions, 



