



208 SELECTION. Chai>. XX. 



• 



likewise killed; "but the young females, with a certain 



number of males, selected from the most beautiful and strong," 

 were given their freedom. Here, then, we have selection by 

 man aiding natural selection. So that the Incas followed 

 exactly the reverse system of that which our Scottish sportsmen 

 are accused of following, namely, of steadily killing the finest 

 stags, thus causing the whole race to degenerate. 61 In regard 

 to the domesticated llamas and alpacas, they were separated 

 in the time of the Incas according to colour ; and if by chance 



— 



one in a flock was born of the wrong colour, it was eventually 



put into another flock. — 



In the genus Auchenia there are four forms, — the Guanaco and 

 Vicuna, found wild and undoubtedly distinct species ; the Llama 



and Alpaca, known only in a domesticated condition. These 





four animals appear so different, that most professed naturalists 

 especially those who have studied these animals in their native 

 country, maintain that they are specifically distinct, notwith- 

 standing that no one pretends to have seen a wild llama or 

 alpaca. Mr. Ledger, however, who has closely studied these 

 animals both in Peru and during their exportation to Australia, 

 and who has made many experiments on their propagation, 

 adduces arguments 62 which seem to me conclusive, that the 

 llama is the domesticated descendant of the guanaco, and the 

 alpaca of the vicuna. And now that we know that these 

 animals many centuries ago were systematically bred and 

 selected, there is nothing surprising in the great amount of 

 change which they have undergone. 



It appeared to me at one time probable that, though ancient 

 and semi-civilised people might have attended to the improve- 

 ment of their more useful animals in essential points, yet that 

 they would have disregarded unimportant characters. But 

 human nature is the same throughout the world : fashion every- 

 where reigns supreme, and man is apt to value whatever he 

 may chance to possess. We have seen that in South America 

 the niata cattle, which certainly are not made useful by their 

 shortened faces and upturned nostrils, have been preserved. 

 The Damaras of South Africa value their cattle for uniformity 



61 < The Natural History of Dee Side,' 1855, p. 476. 



62 < Bull, de la Soc. d'Acclimat.,' torn, vii., 1860, p. 457 





