CLASS I. MAMMALIA: 
OEDER 9. RUMINANTIA. 
579 
THE LAMA. 
Genus LLAMA, or LAMA: Auchenia. — ^These animals, wLicli appear like small camels, and 
represent these animals in the J^"ew "World, are, however, readily distinguished from them, not 
only hy tTie difference of size, but by the absence of dorsal humps and the complete division of 
the toes. This structure of the feet does not adapt them for traveling over such sandy wastes as 
form the natural home of the camel, but for dwelling on mountains and among rocks, where, in 
point of fact, their footing is more sure than that of most other animals. Their form is lighter and 
more elegant than that of the camel; they are not only smaller, but far inferior to their eastern 
relatives in strength. Their native region is upon the slopes of the immense chain of the Andes, 
in South America, on all parts of which they occur ; and although inhabitants of tropical cli- 
mates, they are very impatient of heat, and often ascend into the vicinity of the line of perpetual 
snow. The wild lamas are very vigilant and shy ; tbey live in flocks at a great altitude upon 
the mountains, and only descend toward the plains occasionally in search of food. Both the wild 
and the tame lamas have the singular habit of always, when practicable, dropping their dung 
in the same place, so that considerable heaps of excrement are found in particular spots ; the wild 
ones have also been observed to retire in the same way to a particular spot to die, and in some 
places it is said portions of the banks of rivers may be seen almost whitened with their bones. 
When irritated, they eject the contents of their mouths, consisting of food undergoing its second 
mastication, upon the offending party ; this is doubtless exceedingly disagreeable, but the popular 
belief in the venomous nature of the substance discharged is destitute of foundation. 
Considerable doubts exist as to the number of distinct species of lamas. It has been supposed 
that there are four species, but some zoologists reduce them to two, considering the others as domes- 
ticated varieties. Other writers, on the contrary, increase the number to five or even six. There 
appear, however, to be three species, the true Lama^ the Paco^ and the Vicuna. The term 
Lama — equivalent to cattle — is applied by the natives to all these kinds. The name of Peruvian 
Sheep was given to them by the early European settlers. 
The GuANACO, or Huanaco, A. Guanaco, is regarded as the wild stock from which the true 
lama is derived. They stand rather more than three feet high at the ghoulder, and the neck, 
