Bolivia and Peru, and
its coarse wool is used in the making of garments for the natives. The
alpaca is highly prized for its fine wool, which is a staple export from
Bolivia, but the animal is reared with difficulty and the product cannot
be largely increased. The vicuna also is celebrated for its wool, which
the natives weave into beautiful and costly _ponchos_ (blanket cloaks)
and other wearing apparel. The guanaco is hunted for its skin, which,
when dressed, makes an attractive rug or robe. The slaughter of the
guanaco and vicuna is rapidly diminishing their number. The rearing of
llamas and alpacas is a recognized industry in the Bolivian highlands
and is wholly in the hands of the Indians, who alone seem to understand
the habits and peculiarities of these interesting animals.

Of birds and insects the genera and species are very numerous and
interesting. The high sierras are frequented by condors and eagles of
the largest size, and the whole country by the common vulture, while the
American ostrich (_Rhea americanus_) and a species of large stork (the
_bata_ or _jaburu_, _Mycteria americana_; maximum height, 8 ft.; spread
of wings, 8 ft. 6 in.) inhabit the tropical plains and valleys.
Waterfowl are numerous and the forests of the warm valleys are filled
with song-birds and birds of beautiful plumage. Many species of
humming-birds are found even far up in the mountains, and great numbers
of parrots, araras and toucans, beautiful of feather but harsh of voice,
enliven the forests of the lowlands.

Like other South American states, Bolivia benefited greatly from the
introduction of European animals. Horses, cattle, sheep, goats, swine
and poultry were introduced, and are now sources of food and wealth to a
large part of the population. Mules are used to a large extent as pack
animals, but they are imported from Argentina. Silkworms have been bred
with success in some departments, and the cochineal insect is found
wherever the conditions are favourable for the cactus.

_Flora._--Owing to the diversities in altitude the flora of Bolivia
represents every climatic zone, from the scanty Arctic vegetation of the
lofty Cordilleras to the luxuriant tropical forests of the Amazon basin.
Between these extremes the diversity in vegetable life is as great as
that of climate and soil. The flora of Bolivia has been studied less
than the flora of the neighbouring republics, however, because of the
inaccessibility of these inland