54 
length ; and along the lower part of the sides numerous hairs of double that length are intermixed with the 
wool, and wave lightly over the under covering, to which they form a sort of fringe. The colour is always 
buff or fawn-colour, and, as in the Guanaco, never varies. The Fictma is a very timid animal, always wan- 
dering to the furthest limit of its inclosure, seeking further liberty ; it is very nimble, light and active, fond 
of solitude, and perfectly harmless. The wool is of the finest possible texture, greatly surpassing even that 
of the Alpaca, and has lately been used as a substitute for the fur of the Beaver. 
" The Llama is the largest and strongest built of the four kinds, standing about 3 feet 9 inches high at 
the shoulder. The colour varies so considerably in different individuals, that the five living examples now 
at Knowsley are each of a different colour ; but the variations, though so great, are generally merely varia- 
tions of one colour, hrown ; in some specimens there is more or less of pure white on different parts of the 
animal. The wool is coarse, unfit for finer fabrics, and seldom more than 12 inches long; it covers the 
lower part of the neck and the whole of the body, leaving the head and legs clothed with only a short fur. 
The ears are longer in proportion than those of the Alpaca, and rather more curved towards each other. 
Its temper is always mild and gentle. 
" Alpaca is much smaller than the Llama, and more slenderly built; standing about 3 feet 2 inches 
high at the shoulder. The colour varies, but not so much as in the Llamas : some are pure white, with one 
or two black patches ; some are entirely black ; while others are dark brown ; but black is the predominant 
colour. The wool is thick-set and extremely fine and soft, and covers the whole head, neck, body and legs, 
leaving only the face bare. The wool reaches in some instances to 17 inches in length, and sometimes ex- 
ceeds even that, which is perhaps rather more than the average, which is attained in about two years after 
shearing. The full-fleeced is so thickly clothed with wool from head to foot, that he may at once be 
known from the rest of the group ; his long neck appears of great bulk from the quantity of its clothing ; 
indeed, no animal could be provided with a warmer dress, which in some cases almost touches the ground. 
The Alpaca is perfectly harmless and inoffensive. 
" The period of gestation in the three kinds which have bred at Knowsley, namely the Llama, Alpaca, and 
Guanaco, is eleven months. The Llama and Alpaca breed regularly, but by the Guanaco only a single fawn has 
been produced, to which one of the male Llamas is sire. None of them produce more than one at a birth. 
" All the tribe have the disagreeable habit of spitting, when irritated, a quantity of half-digested cud ; the 
Lla9na and Alpaca do this only when much annoyed ; the Guanaco, on the contrary, upon the slightest occasion. 
" Unlike Sheep, these animals never shed their coat. 
" Two other species of South American quadrupeds, the ChiUhueque and the Taruga, are referred to 
this tribe, but very little is known respecting them. 
" Though the Llama, Alpaca and Vicuna are perfectly harmless and inoffensive, yet, as may be sup- 
posed, the males will very readily quarrel with each other. 
" Mr. Walton, a zealous advocate for the naturalization of the Alpaca, in his little book on the subject 
published by Blackwood in 1844, apprehends better success will be the result when the Alpacas are turned 
on to waste and mountain lands, than when they are kept on richer pasture and well cared for. But the 
fact that few, if any, specimens are now living in Great Britain beside those at Knowsley, does not favour 
this conclusion." 
" I do not know if I told you, that, finding my pair of Huanacos did not make any attempt to breed, I put 
the female to a male Llama, and we have this year a female hybrid doing well. You, I believe, will say this 
is no hybrid, but only the offspring of two varieties of the same stock ; but here we think the four kinds. 
Llama, Guanaco, Alpaca, and Vicuna, are perfectly separate and distinct, if not species at least as races ; but 
I am inclined to say the former. I am inclined to separate all the four, though they will mostly breed 
together, and I believe, but am not sure, that the produce is prolific also. I cannot point out any distinc- 
tion of form, and I do not rely on colour, unless it is constant ; but habit of temper and disposition I look 
on as being more legitimate characteristics." — Jan. 22, 1844. 
" A young Guanaco, but this last is hybrid with the Llama." 
" I have also lost my only Vicuna, a female, and I am afraid by some impropriety, but which we cannot 
yet detect." 
" We have bred this year three Alpaca and one Llama ; the first are two females and one male : we 
expect more of both : and lastly, the Guanaco crossed with the Llama." — May 19, 1845. 
M. Desmoulin, on the authority of the Abbe Beliardy, gives an account of the attempt to introduce thirty- 
six specimens, which were embarked at Buenos Ayres ; nine, after several accidents, only arrived alive at 
St. Lucar: "a female Lama in young by an Alpaca \ two Vigognes, female one with young by an Alpaca \ 
three Alpaca-Vigognes, females or mules between the Vigognes and the Alpaca-, and three male Alpaca." 
He proceeds to observe : hence " the Alpaca crossed with two other species, and very probably the latter 
with themselves." — Diet. Class. N. H. ili. 435. 
