APRIL, 

 1892. 



THE NATURALIST IN LA PLATA 



145 



interesting observations on the occurrence of such animals in those 

 treeless wastes. 



Passing on to a brief survey of the work, we find in the first 

 chapter an excellent description of the Pampas aYid its inhabitants 

 — both feathered, mailed, and furred. Among the latter, consider- 

 able interest attaches to the account of the large Rodent Coypu, and 

 especially its sudden increase and change of habits when protected 

 by law, and its equally sudden destruction by a pestilence which 

 rendered the species well-nigh extinct. A striking illustration is 

 given of a female coypu swimming with its young. Later on 

 (p. 23), we notice that the author waxes very wroth with those who 

 advocate a northern origin for the life of the globe, and at the same 

 time expresses his belief in the existence of a varied bird-fauna, and 

 perhaps also of mammals, in the unexplored antarctic regions. We 

 fear, however, that as regards mammals at least this sanguine view 



Fig. I.— Three-banded Armadillo killing Snake. 



is not likely to be realised. Near the end of this chapter the author 

 is at his best in his description of the Rhea, or American ostrich, 

 and we regret to learn that this splendid bird, vv^ith some other 

 feathered inhabitants of the Pampas, is likely ere long to share the 

 same fate as the bison of the prairies of the northern half of the 

 continent. 



In the second chapter we have a full biography of the puma, 

 which, far from being the cowardly creature generally reported, is 

 described as being really bold and courageous. Curiously enough, it 

 appears to be now well ascertained that the puma in South America 

 will not only never attack man, but will not even defend itself against 

 him. It is new to us that pumas are such deadly enemies to horses 

 as to render their existence impossible in regions where the former 

 abound ; and it is accordingly suggested that we may here have an 



