THE LLAMAS. 27 



THE LLAMAS, 



IN THE GARDENS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The Llama is a native of the lofty and mountainous regions of Peru, Chili, and other districts of 

 South America. It is about four feet and a half in height, and in length, from the neck to the tail, 

 nearly six feet. The back is nearly even, and exhibits no traces of that unsightly hump, which 

 disfigures the back of the camel, to which animal, in many characteristics, it bears a strong resemblance : 

 indeed it may be generally considered as the camel of the New World, performing the different 

 services of that animal, but possessing a greater degree of utility in a commercial point of view, 

 owing to the length and fineness of its wool. In the Spanish settlements, before the introduction of 

 mules, the Llama was employed in the ploughing of land, and in general it is in its nature so mild, 

 gentle and tractable, as to be employed in many parts of those countries for the transportation of 

 burthens. Like the camel, it lies down to be loaded ; but when it is wearied, no blows will induce it to 

 proceed ; its disposition is, however, so capricious, that sometimes when it is struck, it will lie down, 

 and caresses only will induce it again to rise. There is, however, one peculiarity attached to the 

 Llama, which detracts considerably from its merits, in comparison to the horse or the ass, which is, 

 that it cannot be induced to travel by night ; but this deficiency is not much regretted by the natives, 

 as their own natural laziness prevents them from undertaking any nocturnal labour. 



Llamas are generally employed in transporting the rich ores out of the mines of Potosi. In these 

 journies, they will sometimes travel four or five days successively before they seem desirous of repose, 

 and they then rest spontaneously twenty or thirty hours before they resume their labour. Sometimes 

 when they are inclined to rest a few minutes only, they bend their knees and lower their body with 

 great care, to prevent their load falling off, or being in any degree deranged : when, however, they 

 hear their conductor's whistle, they rise with equal caution, and proceed on their journey. In tra- 

 velling during the day-time, they browse wherever they find any herbage, and generally spend the 

 night in chewing the cud. The weight, however, which a Llama can carry is not very great, not 

 exceeding that which is borne by an European ass ; its gait is neither a trot nor a gallop, but so 

 exceedingly gentle, that the women prefer the Llama to every other animal for riding. They are 

 pastured in the open fields like the other domestic animals, and never make any attempt to escape. 

 Their wool is applied to the same purposes as horse hair in this country, although it is as soft as 

 silk, and as fine as the wool of our sheep; the animal is generally shorn once a year, commonly 

 about the end of June : the wool, however, has a very strong and disagreeable odour, which the 

 natives have not yet discovered the art of removing. 



The Llama is a ruminating animal, but it presents this singularity, that, differing from all other 

 ruminants, it has six molar teeth in the upper jaw, and five in the lower ; it has also six incisors in 

 the lower jaw, and two in the upper, and two canines in each. The nostrils of the Llama consist of a 

 mere fissure in the skin, which is opened and shut at pleasure ; and the lips are thick, the upper one 

 divided, and the lower rather depending : they are capable of being opened to a great extent, and 

 possess a considerable degree of separate motion. The ears are about four inches long, are sharp and 

 pointed, and move with great agility; the colour is- a greyish mouse, and the outside of the legs is 

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