HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



M3 



The PACOS 



very much refembles the Lama in figure, but is much 

 fmaller. Its body is covered with very fine long wool, 

 of the colour of dried rofes, or a dull purple ; the belly 

 is white.— They live in vaft herds, and inhabit the mod 

 elevated parts of the higheft mountains, where they en- 

 dure the utmoft rigour of froft and fnow. They are ex- 

 ceedingly fwift •, and fo timid, that it is very difficult to 

 come near them. 



The manner of taking them is lingular. The Indians 

 tie cords, with fmall pieces of wool or cloth hanging 

 from them, acrofs the narrow paffes of the mountains, 

 about three or four feet from the ground : They then 

 drive a herd of thefe animals towards them ; and they 

 are fo terrified by the flutter of the rags, that they dare 

 not pafs, but huddle together, and fuffer themfelves to 

 be killed in great numbers. 



Their wool is a valuable article of commerce ; and is 

 made into gloves, {lockings, bed-cloaths, carpets, &c. 



The Pacos are domefticated ; and, like the Lamas, are 

 employed in carrying burdens ; but cannot bear more 

 than from fifty to feventy-five pounds •, and are (till more 

 fubjecl; to capricious fits of obftinacy. When once they 

 lie down with their load, no blows can provoke them to 

 rife. 



The great advantage, derived from the wool of thefe 

 creatures, induced the Spaniards to attempt their intro- 

 duction into Europe. Some of them were brought over 

 to Spain ; but, by not fufficiently attending to the necef- 

 fity of placing them in fituations fimilar to thofe which 

 they had always been accullomed to, the experiment 

 proved unfuccefsful. 



