20 PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS: ZOOLOGY. 



of Patagonia that I have traversed; that is north to 46° N., from the Andes 

 to the coast. 



"Although there are a good many Guanacos on Tierra del Fuego, and 

 a few on the other small islands, Lenox and Grandi, the extremely moist 

 climate, with its consequent peculiarities of vegetation, principally mosses 

 and lichens, does not seem suited to it. . . . 



"Contrary to Mr. Darwin, I should not call this an elegant animal. It 

 seems ill-proportioned and awkward, especially when running, when the 

 body seemingly has two separate motions, reminding one of a hobby-horse 

 with a movable neck. The Guanaco has but two movements, the walk 

 and the gallop. When galloping both hind legs are moved together, a 

 fact which makes it necessary for the Indians to throw their bola so as to 

 catch a hind and a fore leg, as a"bola tied around the hind legs in no way 

 retards the forward movement. 



" Near settlements, along the coast and rivers where they frequently 

 see men, the Guanaco is quite easily approached, being seemingly not 

 afraid of man, but merely curious. I have often been within fifty yards of 

 them. In fencing in the large estancias great numbers are often enclosed, 

 where they may be seen feeding contentedly with the sheep. In the 

 Andes and on the high pampas, however, where they never see man, one 

 rarely gets closer than three or four hundred yards; more often only a 

 hideous, mirage-distorted figure is seen as they disappear in the distance. 

 Here they are as wild as our western Pronghorn. 



"During the summer months they feed singly and in small groups 

 scattered over the pampas ; rarely more than a dozen are found together. 

 But during the winter months, as the snow gradually covers the grass on 

 the pampas, they range toward the sea coast and rivers, and feed in large 

 herds in the barancas or broken coast where the sea breezes melt the snow. 

 From one hill in the Rincon de Boca, north of Rio Coy, I have counted 

 four herds containing from three hundred to a thousand each. 



"While feeding one of the males usually stands guard on higher 

 ground, giving the alarm if an enemy appears. This alarm, the only 

 noise I have heard them make except when fighting or brought to bay, is 

 a prolonged drawn-out neigh. 



"While camped in an old lake bed near the Cordilleras, I was startled 

 one morning by a series of peculiar screams very much like those of a 

 horse in distress. Running to a hill near by I saw two large males fight- 



