ALPACA, or PA'CO (Ar. al, the + Peruv. paca). One of the four cameloid mammals of the Andean region, known zo6logically as Lama pacos. It is smaller than the llama, and more nearly resembles the vicuna, although now con sidered to have been, like the llama, derived from the guanaco. (SeeLLAMA.1 Its form is very sheep like, except for the long, erectly carried head; and, although wild ones exist, it is mainly known in great, semi-domesticated flocks kept by the Peruvian mountain Indians for the sake of the wool. These flocks graze on the pastures of the loftiest valleys, almost at the snow-line, which seem to be the natural home of the animal, and where they have formed interesting instincts and habits of vigilance and protection against sudden storms and snowfalls. These flocks are said to be so careful to keep together that it is impos sible to separate a full-grown individual, so that none can be truly tamed which is not taken when very young. Once a year the Indians drive dheir flocks to stone inclosures or huts, and shear the wool, after which the flocks are again turned loose. This custom is prehistoric, and Squier says that many of the shearing huts about Lake Titicaca have stood there since long before the Spanish conquest. The alpaca is known from the equator to Tierra del Fuego, but is most com mon in Peru and Chile; its flesh is well liked as food, and the animal is occasionally used as a beast of burden. The alpaca's coat consists of a thick growth of woolly hair, varying from black to gray or yellowish, and reaching, when unshorn, a length of some two feet. The annually shorn
fleece is about eight inches in length. The fibre is small but strong, elastic, very lustrous and silky, and highly valued for weaving warm and fine cloth. The natives of the Andes have made use of it from time immemorial for their pon chos or blankets, remains of which have been found in the oldest
Attempts have been made to introduce the alpaca into Europe, but not with satisfactory results. The considerable flock formerly exist ing in the Pyrenees seems to have disappeared. Similarly, the costly trial of acclimatizing them in Australia has failed. An attempt was made in 1821 to introduce the alpaca into the United States; a fund was raised, and in 1857 a cargo of them was shipped to Baltimore; hut the result. showed that they could not be acclimatized.