156 To the River Plate and Back 



species belonging to the genus Eucalyptus^ or closely 

 related thereto, are growing upon the grounds. The 

 eucalyptus has become the popular shade-tree in 

 subtropical South America, and is grown everywhere. 

 I was informed, however, by Dr. Roth, that it does not 

 propagate itself by seed sown naturally. In the parks 

 at La Plata and upon the grounds of the Observatory 

 I searched in vain to find young eucalyptus-trees 

 growing where seed had fallen. I am told that special 

 precautions must be taken to propagate the young 

 plants, and that wind-sown seeds do not appear to 

 germinate, or, if they do, the plants die. Whether this 

 is due to soil or climate, I was unable to learn. 



The Zoological Garden, which is under the care of 

 Dr. Clemente Onelli, is large and attractively arranged. 

 It appears to be a favorite resort of the people, and was 

 thronged with visitors when we reached it about three 

 o'clock in the afternoon. It is true the day was a holi- 

 day, but on the occasion of a subsequent visit I found, 

 though it was not a holiday, a great gathering of young 

 and old people filling the grounds. The collection of an- 

 imals is extensive and they are evidently well fed. The 

 jaguars were particularly fine. There were a number of 

 them, some of which were very large and powerful brutes. 

 At one time the jaguars did a great deal of mischief 

 among the cattle in the northern provinces of Argen- 

 tina, but their numbers have steadily decreased in 

 recent years, and in the immediate vicinity of Buenos 

 Aires they have become totally extinct, and it is only 

 when a great freshet occurs in the river, and floating 

 islands of driftwood are brought down from the tropical 

 north, that stray specimens now and then appear. 

 On the occasion of a great flood in the Rio de la Plata 

 which took place a few years ago, I was informed that 



