361 Extracts from the 



all to keep their distance. Armed with a similar, though 

 less highly developed organ of defence as the skunk, is the 

 " huron," a kind of large polecat, which is also fairly common 

 here (Galictis vittata). Next to the skunk, the handsomest 

 of the carnivores here is a fox (Canis azara), resembling in 

 size and appearance the European one, but with beautiful 

 silvery-grey fur. So much for the carnivores. The only 

 other mammals are a species of deer, which I have not met 

 with alive (Cervus campestris), and two species of opos- 

 sum, which I have not seen alive either. So the mammal 

 fauna, like the avifauna, is, on the whole, rich — 14 species, 

 of which 8 are abundant. I may mention that of birds I 

 have obtained examples of 79 species, all on this estancia 

 alone, so that you can have some idea of the wonderful richness 

 of the fauna, considering we are in a strictly temperate climate 

 and latitude 35° S. It quite takes my breath away when I 

 think of the Pilcomayo and lat. 20° S. I am afraid that I 

 have thoroughly tired you out with my long-windedness, 

 but I must plead as my excuse that I wish to give you as 

 complete an idea as possible of the general appearance of 

 nature here. 



Had I written a month ago I might have declared the 

 flora of this place almost nil; writing now, I must say that it 

 is very luxuriant, richer, however, in individuals than in 

 species. In species it appears to be, in fact, poor ; and this 

 is not to be wondered at, for there is an utter want of that 

 variety in physical conditions which is the first. factor in 

 making a flora rich in variety of species. Here we have 

 nothing but rolling undulating camp, no wooded lands (the 

 plantations being quite modern), no mountain, not even 

 any absolutely permanent water. The consequence is that 

 we have the flora of the plain and nothing more. As I have 

 not any botanical work of reference out in the camp here, I 

 am afraid that my account of the flora will have to be very 

 meagre indeed. 



