Birds of Urugumj. 159 



watershed between Soriano and Colonia. The rivers and 

 streams north of this are either tributaries of the Rio 

 NegrOj or, like the Arroyo de San Salvador, flow direct 

 into the Rio Uruguay ; while those south of it fall directly 

 into the Rio de la Plata. On the west another long line of 

 Cuchilla, the Cuchilla de Perdido, formed our horizon. 

 North-east of us we had the pyramidal Cerro de Ojosmin ; 

 and the view on the north and east terminated in high 

 ground, part of or a continuation of the Cuchilla de Mar- 

 incho — the valleys of the rivers being completely shut in 

 and unseen, a common feature in this " rolling " country. 



In the early part of December I started with my friend 

 Seiior Don Juan La Dieu on a visit to the Rio Negro. We 

 arrived on the evening of the second day (by way of the little 

 town of Porongos) at the Estancia Santa Florencia, on the 

 northern bank of the Rio Negro, which we crossed at the 

 Paso de Navarro. Returning to Sta. Ana we made a three 

 days^ ride of it ; turning eastward within a couple of leagues 

 of the Pass we crossed the Marincho at once and stayed a 

 night at the beautiful estancia of a German gentleman. At 

 the Rio Negro we Avere the guests of Mr. W. J. Sloane, from 

 whom and his neighbour Mr. W. P. Steer I received every 

 kindness and assistance in my collecting. 



Sta. Florencia is situated on high ground, overlooking the 

 Rio Negro (which just there makes a considerable bend, 

 almost enclosing the camp on three sides), and is not more 

 than two or three miles from the monte. The estancia is 

 nearly opposite the point at which the Arroyo Grande flows 

 into the Rio Negro ; the Rio Yi flows in still further to the 

 east. The monte here is very broad, especially in some places, 

 and in parts the growth is so thick that it is almost impossible 

 to get about, except along narroAv ^patlis made by cattle, or 

 worn out by torrents in times of flood. The trees are much 

 taller than in the vicinity of Sta. Elena, and include many 

 species not found growing wild in that district. For instance, 

 there are the vidarao and the blancilla — two of the tallest trees. 

 On the river-bank there is often a thick growth of mataojo, 

 the tough stems of which, springing up or lying about in all 



