Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-02-27
THE ALPACA.

IcNIIOn Vi INC American Dp'INhl'u'N ~ HNsO-
cation, at the suggestion of Il. l.. Pell, of
Ulster county, to introduce the Peruvian
sheep, or Alpaca, into the United States.
This animal inhabits the slopes, table lands,
and mountains of Peru, Bolivia and Chill,
enduring all the vicissitudes Of climate. They
are found 1900 feet above the level Of the
sea, where they derive subsistence from the
moss, &c. growing upon the rocks, exposing
to all rirors of the elements, and receiving
neither food nor care from tie hand of man.
The shepherd only visits them occasionally;
yet such are their gregarious habits, that the
members Of one flock seldom stray away and
mix with another, being kept in discipline
by the older ones, who know their grounds,
and become attached to the place of their
nativity, to which they return at night, evin-
cling an astonishing vigilance and sagaclty IN
keeping the young ones together, and Tree
from harm. Hence there is no need OF
branding them. So great is the intelligence
of some leaders Of d flock, that much value
is, on this account, attached to them by their
owner, part Of whose duties they perform.
These animals, SAYS William Walton, are
found on the snow-capped mountain CHM
oo''""' ll'o'o 'e' "ooNu '"o se"' !" '"',
roP'c"l regio'' excessive neat Is experienced
in the month of August during the day, and
towards evening the thermometer rcgu-
lltly falls many degrees below freezing
POM, an" Inc next morning rises from o 10
IL degrees ABOVE IT, all OF whici cnanges
lney endure perfectly welt IN otner pa'''
q, the An1e Mountains, during nan me year
$40" ana nan ihli necessarily WHIST III uo
h,eler regions as before no''ceo' every
MINT me thermometer liIs many degrees
oeio" 'lh lrceHlng Poihl' ana '"e pea" Con-
Seq0enily Is covered WIKI an accumu'a''o" o
ice. he wet season succeeds, wien ilgo''
h'ng h1sn'S traverse inc ciouuS III 'aP!n sue
ces'Ion' beloved not by showers, out ny 'oT'
rents OF ram winch amer coIiec,'hg, '"'
lHidiong from toe rocks, leaving me Slope
almost "'rr 81 soil, ana spreading uesV'a''ol
wherever they pass. sun Inc A'pac"
abound ana thrive. iheir ,ee'n are 81
strong That lh'Y can easily crush ana mast,
Gaze Ves''ao'e substances 100 nara ana 'oog'
'"f o~fd'hRFy c'ii'. IN 'Ne formation o
'''iF stomach '''V r's'hlole Inc camel AM
can UNDERGO extreme munger ana '@l!is',
"e'r meat IS 'enatr', Whoirsome ana i! Ina
country recommended ny phys'ciats 10 'n'a
',ds' IA preference TO lo"ls-i9r all o'c'af'
'la' iiei' meal Is extremely WhoIeSotn'' aux
as p.lata''e as 'na' Oh III sn'ep Il! N"S'"e
NiT ", ii''"fr remarks, ''"' ~ MS "''o '"e''
we're SHAMELESS IN the Peruvian towns wner'
ii was constantly sold. The quality of al
p"ca meat could not fai! to be good, whel
the CLEANLINESS OF the animal, the nature 0
us 1000, ana 'he neat ana delicate name
IN Wllch II leeds, are considered. ihry ca
me p"res' vegetable suQstances, winch the.
Gull VIA the greatest care and in hahitoa
cleanliness surpass every other qnadruped
ihe Inrdy> nature and contenlcd disposluo.
0 itIe AIPaca' cause IL TO adapt iiSe'i to al
most any SOL! or SITUATION. lhe best proc
OF It's hafanesS IS lis power TO endure cold
damp, hunger thirst and yiciSsi udps to whJc
it is constantly exposed on its native moua
%taiGs; while its gentle and docile q%nalilie
are eyinced IN its general habits Of ~alieclio.
towards lis keeper.
No animal in the universe IS less a1,cte
by the changes Of climate and food, nor
there any one to be found more easily domi
ciliated than tins. Another remarkable fea
lHlt III lNN alpaca -, lildl II uOCS Hbl per
spirc; for which reason, and its PECULIAR
clean habits, the fleece does IT require wasl
ing before it is taken from the back. A
though often confined to regions where
"Soow, piled on snow, each mass appears
1Ae gathering winter VI a thousand yeaFs''
r me Alpaca IS Tree from all disease incIdeI
tai TO common sheep. The chest Is gnarde
ny IA caIIossIiy, winch comes IN contact WI
, The ground whlIe The animal reposes, an
, protects 1t from catarrhs, or other disorder
disabling the limbs. In whatever point
vie" we contemplate the properties and bal
lis OF inns animal, II viii he found a snllab
= stock Tor all our Western and NortheI
nldtes; waste and Improbable pasturt
would sn'Iice them they would browse
{ VIVA grasses, and iierbage that cattle al
sAecp reject.
ihty VIII yield from II to ID pounds
WOOL winch Is suited for the finest class
goods, ana Calculated to compete with sill
is II Is almost as fashionable now as that IA
re, beng worn by her Majesty, Victor
! In 1881, the quantity Of Alpaca wool IL
ported into England was 300 lbs, valn
at SIG Dpr uuinIal-in 1919 IN JulV o.
~ ,OUU lbs, valued at SO per qulnial