hey may be seen scaling
the snow-covered peaks to a height which no other living thing save the
condor can reach. They find sustenance in the _ychu_, a species of
grass which grows all along the great ridge of the Cordilleras, from the
equator to the southern limits of Patagonia.

THE VICUNA.

The vicunas are very beautiful and graceful creatures, with the habits
of antelopes. They have long, slender necks, and rich fawn-coloured
coats, with patches of white across the shoulders and inside the legs.
The wool is shorter and more curly than that of the three other species,
and, from its extreme fineness, is of much greater value.

During the dry season, when the grass of the plains has withered, they
descend to the swampy ground below. One male is followed by a dozen or
more females, over whom he watches with the most faithful care. Should
he apprehend danger, he utters a loud, shrill cry of alarm, and rapidly
advances. The herd then collecting, moves forward slowly; but
immediately they discover the approach of an enemy they wheel round and
fly--at first at a slow pace, frequently looking round, and then away
they dart, fleet as the wind, the male covering their retreat. Should
their protector be wounded, the females return and keep circling round
him, uttering piercing notes of sorrow, and remain to be shot rather
than desert their companion.

Although it is only when enraged that the llamas and huanucus spit upon
those near them, the vicunas and alpacas invariably eject saliva and
undigested food--which has a peculiarly disagreeable smell--upon all who
approach them.

Vicunas in vast numbers are found ranging over the more remote and lofty
regions of the Puna, where they are able to find a safe retreat from the
attacks of man. They have, however, a very formidable enemy in the
ravenous condor, who frequently robs them of their young.

These two wild species the Peruvian peasants were never allowed to hunt,
they being as much the property of the government as if enclosed within
a park. Only on stated occasions, once a year, great hunts took place
under the superintendence of the Inca, or his principal officers. They
were never repeated in the same quarter oftener than once in four years,
that time might be allowed for the waste occasioned by them to be
replenished. At the time appointed the whole surrounding population--
sometimes, it is said, amounting to nearly ten thousand men--formed a
circle round