The Desert Pampas. 23 
geese; and many Passerine birds, chiefly of the 
Tyrant family. 
Should the long projected Australasian expedition 
to the South Polar regions ever be carried to a 
successful issue, there will probably be important 
results for ornithology, in spite of the astounding 
theory which has found a recent advocate in Canon 
Tristram, that all life originated at the North Pole, 
whence it spread over the globe, but never succeeded 
in crossing the deep sea surrounding the antarctic 
continent, which has consequently remained till now 
desolate, “‘a giant ash (and ice) of death.” Nor 
is it unlikely that animals of a higher class than 
birds exist there; and the discovery of new mam- 
malians, differing in type from those we know, 
would certainly be glad tidings to most students of 
nature. 
Land birds on the pampas are few in species and 
in numbers. This may be accounted for by the 
absence of trees and other elevations on which birds 
prefer to roost and nest; and by the scarcity of 
food. Insects are few in dry situations; and the 
large perennial grasses, which occupy most of the 
ground, yield a miserable yearly harvest of a few 
minute seeds; so that this district is a poor one 
both for soft and hard billed birds. Hawks of 
several genera, in moderate numbers, are there, but 
generally keep to the marshes. Hagles and vultures 
are somewhat unworthily represented by carrion- 
hawks (Polyborine) ; the lordly carancho, almost 
eagle-like in size, black and crested, with a very 
large, pale blue, hooked beak—his battle axe: and 
his humble follower and jackal, the brown and 
