66 



THE LLAMA. 



P.S. The London Natural History Society, of which you published 

 a notice at p. 417 of the volume just brought to a close, is doing pretty 

 well ; and we are of opinion, that in the course of a short time, when 

 our number becomes augmented, we shall do very well*. 



Padding ton. 



N. N's AGENDA. 



THE LLAMA OF PERU. 



We are indebted to the attention of a correspondent in Oban for the 

 following- account of the interesting attempt now making in that neigh- 

 bourhood to domesticate the llama. 



I am not surprised that the llamas here should be exciting attention, 

 for they certainly are objects worthy of notice. This animal does not 

 in any shape resemble the sheep of this country ; its height is from 

 four to five feet, with long legs and long neck, in some respects not 

 unlike the camel, a small head without horns, the countenance gentle 

 and expressive of wonder. It is not remarkable for any peculiar habits, 

 except that it delights in ascending to the summits of the hills : its 

 appearance indicates an unfitness for climbing ; I observe, however, 

 nature has served it with a hooked claw on each hoof, which enables it 

 in some measure to travel heights with as much security as the goat. 

 Their food and treatment differ in no particular from Mr. Stevenson's 

 cows ; they graze, eat hay, chopped straw and potatoes, with them 

 daily, and have formed such an attachment to the cows, that when the 

 latter are brought from the hill for the purpose of milking, the llamas 

 will not remain behind, but accompany them to and from the byre three 

 times a day, a distance of half a mile — the wool is extremely fine, each 

 fleece weighing from five to six pounds. Mr. Stevenson imported the 

 first pair (of the Alpacha breed, for there are several varieties) about 

 three years ago — he tells me that there were four or five pairs shipped 

 for him, but all died during the voyage except the one, and the follow- 

 ing year he received another pair of what he terms the real llama, but 

 a common observer cannot discern any difference. They inhabit the 



* I wish all success to this, as yet young, Society, and hope to see contributions 

 from others of its members, besides our present well-informed and enthusiastic 

 correspondent Ed. 



