73 



The Tree-cacti were in full bloom and gorgeous with 

 their scarlet blossoms which entirely covered the stems. 



We mounted higher and higher and left the vegetation 

 behind us and in time found ourselves in the high Moun- 

 tain scenery which now clad in snow looked quite different 

 from two months ago when hardly any snow was seen. 

 The mountain lakes with their pure water in their white 

 surroundings were most glorious to see and I will not 

 even attempt to give an idea of the glorious combination 



ure air 



of the white mountains, the blue sky and the p 



Near Caracoles where the train enters the tunnel I saw 

 a Ckimango in the midst of the snow. 



At Los Cuevas we came out of the tunnel (it takes about 

 1 4 minutes to get through it) and here found a car with some 

 tea and bread which we could use whilst the train was 

 busy with different arrangements. 



Of course we were late, but we had got through without 

 mishap of snowfalls etc. which was a great thing. 



We also got on slowly but surely to Mendoza, where I 

 had to change again into another train with sleeping car, 

 to at last go straight to Buenos Ayres. 



I do not tell all I had to go through with the railway 

 officials with my birds, especially the Antarctic Goose. 

 Suffice it to say that I got through and reached Buenos 

 Ayres the following night at 2 o'^clock in the morning, 

 but I don't advise anyone to try the same experiment ! ! 



In the Argentine pampas I saw the Chimango as usual, 

 also a good many Caracara {PoJijh. hrasiliensis) and Bur- 

 rowing Owls. 



In a rough damp place I saw a little Pampas Deer 

 Buck {Cervus campestris) which looked at the train — and 

 not far from there also in rough land, where no cattle was, 

 a large Tinamou, apparently RhyncJwtus rufescens^ flew 

 away at our approach. 



From Buenos Ayres, after I had settled every thing for 

 my return journey which was to take place on the 6^^^ of 

 ^, I went for a day to La Plata to see the museum. 



Notes from the Leyden Miuseum, Vol. XXXV. 



