78 Letters, Announcements, ^c. 



Little Burrowing Owlets sat in many of the depressions of 

 the ground, generally flying about a hundred yards and perching 

 on a thistle when frightened. 



The Ostrich, Rhea americana, and Deer were very plentiful 

 on the plains, and afford capital sport either stalking or riding. 

 The former are not good to eat ; but their stomachs are sought 

 after as a medicine, and their feathers also possess a small com- 

 mercial value. 



My friend, the proprietor of this estate, a very enlightened 

 Spanish gentleman. resident in Monte Video, asked me to shoot 

 him a dozen, as he wished to send the stomachs to some friends 

 in Europe. I obtained my first four very easily by following 

 the advice of a young gaucho who was with me. In compliance 

 with his instructions, on observing a troop we went- carelessly 

 towards them till they appeared startled, when we threw our- 

 selves on the ground and flung our arms and legs about. The 

 birds cautiously approached with outstretched necks to see what 

 we were. When the foremost one (the male, known by his blacker 

 neck) was within about sixty yards, I shot him with my rifle ; and 

 seizing my gun from the boy, I rushed at the remainder of the 

 flock, the hens. They charged undauntedly up to me with out- 

 stretched and drooping wings, and I secured some more; the 

 remainder turned and ran off at a tremendous pace ; but I was 

 lucky enough to stop another with a bullet. My boy assured 

 me that, had I shot a hen first, the others would have made off 

 at once. I always adopted this plan afterwards, with varying 

 success. 



I do not know what truth there may be in this idea about 

 their stomachs ; but the boers at the Cape of Good Hope dry and 

 grind up the stomach of the Knorhaan [Eupidotis afra) for the 

 same purpose. 



I was three mouths in the River Plate, but during that period 

 I never saw any bird of the Cormorant tribe; Gulls and Terns, 

 however, were very plentiful ; and just before our departure in 

 September several pairs of Black-necked Swans were observed 

 from the ship. 



Between Monte Video and the northern extreme of the South- 

 American continent, at a distance varying from 300 to 100 



