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Show 580 DR. J. MURIE ON LLAMAS AND ALPACAS. [Dec. 13, Nymphalis codomanus, Godt. Enc. Meth. ix. p.423. n. 231 (1819). Hab. Sta Lucia; Brazil (var.). B.M. Var. Fascia posticarum supra abbreviata. Hab. Ega. B.M. 11. On the Llama and Alpaca in their Summer Dress. B y J A M E S M U R I E , M.D., Prosector to the Society. (Plate XLIV.) During the summer that has just gone by, Dr. J. E. Gray called my attention to the desirableness of having a good photograph taken representing the members of the genus Auchenia in their shorn condition. This, however, was found a less easy task than imagined ; for no sooner were the animals placed in proper grouping than some one of them would alter its position. I thus was obliged to avail myself of the assistance of m y friend Mr. Ernest Griset, who was successful in delineating the accompanying group of one Llama and two Alpacas (PL XLIV.). The male Llama was received, in exchange for a female one, from Her Majesty the Queen on the 28th April, 1860. The two Alpacas are male and female. The latter, a black-coloured animal, arrived iu the Gardens in 1849 ; the former, a black-and-white male, was received, in exchange for a young one of the above female, from Titus Salt, Esq., M.P., on 13th September, 1860, this male having been bred in England by that gentleman. Although both Llamas and Alpacas have been bred repeatedly in the Gardens in former years, yet since 1860 no offspring has been produced. Until lately it has never been thought necessary to shear the animals of their long coats (that is, those in our Gardens), although in their native country, according to Colpaert*, on the Alpaca this operation is performed every two or three years. On our male Llama the fleece has always remained perfect, until the operation of shearing was performed about the end of last August. On the female Llama, which is along with this male, it was different, as during this summer the fleece became ragged and partially dropped off, which circumstance suggested the shearing of the others. This fact is significant, and at variance with the recorded observations of the late Earl of Derby in his celebrated Knowsley collection. Upon this subject he saysf, "Unlike Sheep, these animals never shed their coats." The same may be said of the Alpacas as of the male Llama, their fleeces exhibiting no signs of falling off. * Etude surle Perou-" Des Betes a Laine des Andes," by M. Emile Colpaert, Bull, de la Soc. Imp. Zool. d'Acclimatation, ser. 2. vol. i. (1864) p. 124. f Gleanings from the Menatierie and Aviary at Knowsley Hall, 1850, p. 54. See also Dr. Gray, Cat. M a m m . Brit. Mus. 1852, (Unyulata) p. 255. |