The Delta of the Parana 185 



tive woodland. A boat was lowered and we were rowed 

 to the bank. It was no easy task to fight our way 

 through the thorny growths of Eryngium and rough 

 thickets which edged the stream. Getting through 

 these, the ground became more open, and it was possible 

 to find our way among the trees and bushes without 

 much exertion. A few moths, a butterfly or two, and 

 a small snake of a harmless species were the only 

 trophies which fell to the writer during the half-hour 

 on shore. The snake was put into a bag improvised 

 out of a handkerchief, and thus safely brought alive in 

 his pocket to La Plata, where it was put into a jar of 

 alcohol to be sent home to the Carnegie Museum. 

 That was the only snake I saw in Argentina. It was 

 a real snake. 



A little farther on we went ashore at another planta- 

 tion, also belonging to Senor Gnecco. Here the ground 

 in proximity to the landing was in a highly cultivated 

 condition. There were many flowering shrubs and 

 trees and much grass. Butterflies and insects appeared 

 to be common, and I succeeded with the help of Dr. 

 Roth, who also was provided with a net, in making a 

 large catch of diptera, hymenoptera, and small cole- 

 optera, principally obtained by " sweeping' 1 with the 

 nets among the low-growing herbage. By the time 

 we had thoroughly gone over the ground, the sun 

 admonished us that it was time to be again moving. 

 We got under way; at last reached the landing, where 

 our armed escort left us with a polite salute; then we 

 crossed the wide river, pushed on through the canals, 

 and finally arrived at El Tigre in the dusk. We took 

 a train which brought us to the Capital in time for a late 

 dinner. By ten o'clock we were safely back again in 

 La Plata. 



