316 The Naturakst in La Plata. 
it is gregarious, and is usually seen in small herds, - 
but herds numbering several hundreds or even a 
thousand are occasionally met with on the stony, 
desolate platcaus of Southern Patagonia; but the 
huanaco is able to thrive and grow fat where almost 
any other herbivore would starve. While the herd 
feeds one animal acts as sentinel, stationed on the 
hillside, and on the appearance of danger utters a 
shrill neigh of alarm, and instantly all take to flight. 
But although excessively shy and wary they are 
also extremely curious, and have enough intelligence 
to know that a single horseman can do them no 
harm, for they will not only approach to look closely 
at him, but will sometimes follow him for miles. 
They are also excitable, and at times indulge in 
strange freaks. Darwin writes :—‘‘ On the mountains 
of Tierra del Fuego I have more than once seen 
a huanaco, on being approached, not only neigh 
and squeal, but prance and leap about in a most 
ridiculous manner, apparently in defiance as a 
challenge.” And Captain Kine relates that while 
sailing into Port Desire he witnessed a chase of a 
huanaco after a fox, both animals evidently going 
at their greatest speed, so that they soon passed 
out of sight. I have known some tame huanacos, 
and in that state they make amusing intelligent 
pets, fond of being caressed, but often so frolicsome 
and mischievous as to be a nuisance to their master. 
It is well known that at the southern extremity 
of Patagonia the huanacos have a dying place, a 
spot to which all individuals inhabiting the surround- 
ing plains repair at the approach of death to deposit 
their bones, Darwin and Fitzroy first recorded 
