Eve Chester, age 13, of Concorn, N.H., for her question:

WHERE DOES THE VICUNA LIVE?

The vicuna is the smallest member of the camel family. He lives in the Andes Mountains of Bolivia, Chile and Peru. His home is generally near the snow line in areas that are from 12,000 to 18,000 feet above sea level.

The vicuna and guanaco are the two wild members of the camel family ~found in South America. The other two, the alpaca and llama, are domesticated. None of the four has a hump.

A vicuna grows to be about three feet high at the shoulders and weighs between 75 and 140 pounds. He has a long, slender neck and eats grass.

You'll find that vicunas live in herds which contain one male and from six to 10 females. They have remarkable sight, speed and endurance.

Vicunas have finer fleece than any other wool bearing animal. The hairs are less than half as thick as that of the finest sheep's wool.