ZOOLOGY. ^1 



logous to that of high Peru, in which latter territory the ani- 

 mals in question live naturally, and multiply their species. 

 The sole reason, it would appear, which can be adduced, to 

 account for this extraordinary circumstance, is that, through- 

 out the whole extent of the northern mountains of the Cordil- 

 lera, a kind of pasture which the Peruvian naturalists name 

 ycho, or ychu, and which is denominated by the authors of 

 the Flora of Peru xarava, is not to be found. This plant be- 

 longs to the gramineous tribe, and appears to be the natural 

 food of the vicunas, huanacos, &c. It is extremely abundant 

 in the mountains of Peru; but in those of Quito, Santa Fe, &c. 

 naturalists have not hitherto succeeded in ascertaining its 

 presence. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Under this head, the llama, referred to above, is intro- 

 duced in Plate II. To shew the diversity of colour, the artist 

 has copied two of these animals from the Peruvian painting by 

 which the different engravings contained in this work are sup- 

 plied. As they were brought to the Capital, Lima, from the 

 mine territory, to be exhibited in an Indian procession, they 

 are laden with bars of silver, in allusion to that circumstance. 

 The natural history of this animal is too well known to need 

 any particular mention in this place ; but a few words may be 

 offered relatively to the vicuna, another animal of the same 

 species, which supplies the vicuna wool. To obtain this, the 

 Indians hunt down and destroy these animals, insomuch, that 

 it is probable the race will one day become extindt in Peru. 

 If, as is confidently asserted by many intelligent natives of 



H2 that 



