Birds of Urugnmj. 155 



journey from San Jose were covered with these grey rocks 

 and boulders^ lying about in the greatest confusion, and 

 presented a desolate aspect. Especially noticeable were the 

 Cerros de Mahoma. 



In the bottoms between the undulations of the land a 

 Canada (or small watercourse of varying width) usually exists. 

 These were either permanent with a natural stream, or 

 merely served to carry off rain-water, the latter being fre- 

 quently dry except for small water-holes or lagunas here and 

 there. Some had high, steep, earthy banks j others were wider, 

 boggy, and much grown up, with marshy edges in places 

 and in others forming larger lagunas. 



In these bottoms, and along the level ground on the banks 

 of the rivers, were considerable beds of a tall hassock grass 

 {" paja mansa""^), called '^pajonales.'" 



In addition to the two rivers bordering two sides of the 

 triangular camp, another smaller one, known by the common 

 name of the Sauce (Spanish for a willow), flowed through the 

 southern part of the camp and joined the Arroyo Grande. 

 The only natural Avoodland found in this part of Uruguay 

 consists of a more or less broad belt of trees or shrubs 

 on the river-banks, known as " monte.^^ Along the whole 

 course of the Arroyo Grande here there is a belt of monte, 

 and the loiver part of the Monzon is similarly clothed; just 

 before the rivers join in the apex of the triangle (or '' rincon,^^ 

 as it called) the montes become confluent. The monte here con- 

 sists for the most part of low thorny trees, chiefly tala and 

 moye. There are also many Avillows (sauce) and in one or 

 two places a few Lombardy poplars (planted, as are many 

 of the willows), and in one spot some peaches (" durazno "). 

 Other trees on the banks, but less abundant, are the '' nanga- 

 piri," '^mataojo," ''quebracha^' (QuehracMa, sp.), ^^guayaba,'^ 

 &c. The " sarandi " is found commonly forming low 

 thickets at the water's edge and in the shallow water and 

 mud. What little monte is found along the Sauce consists 

 almost entirely of this, with a few willows, tala, moye, &c. 

 Id many places, close to the rivers, and sometimes in their 

 beds, there are patches of a very tall paja (sometimes as 



