270 CENTRAL CHILE. [CHAP. xn. 



it never resumes this habit ; but that having gorged itself, it waii- 

 ders far away. The puma is easily killed. In an open country, 

 it is first entangled with the bolas, then lazoed, and dragged 

 along the ground till rendered insensible. At Tandeel (south 

 of the Plata) I was told that within three months one hundred 

 were thus destroyed. In Chile they are generally driven up 

 bushes or trees, and are then either shot, or baited to death by 

 dogs. The dogs employed in this chase belong to a particular 

 breed, called Leoneros : they are weak, slight animals, like long- 

 legged terriers, but are born with a particular instinct for this 

 sport. The puma is described as being very crafty : when pur- 

 sued, it often returns on its former track, and then suddenly 

 making a spring on one side, waits there till the dogs have 

 passed by. It is a very silent animal, uttering no cry even when 

 wounded, and only rarely during the breeding season. 



Of birds, two species of the genus Pteroptochos (megapodius 

 and albicollis of Kittlitz) are perhaps the most conspicuous. 

 The former, called by the Chilenos " el Turco," is as large as a 

 fieldfare, to which bird it has some alliance ; but its legs are 

 much longer, tail shorter, and beak stronger: its colour is a 

 reddish brown. The Turco is not uncommon. It lives on the 

 ground, sheltered among the thickets which are scattered over 

 the dry and sterile hills. With its tail erect, and stilt-like legs, 

 it may be seen every now and then popping from one bush to 

 another with uncommon quickness. It really requires little ima- 

 gination to believe that the bird is ashamed of itself, and is aware 

 of its most ridiculous figure. On first seeing it, one is tempted 

 to exclaim, ' A vilely stuffed specimen has escaped from some 

 museum, and has come to life again !' It cannot be made to 

 take flight without the greatest trouble, nor does it run, but only 

 hops. The various loud cries which it utters when concealed 

 amongst the bushes, are as strange as its appearance. It is said 

 to build its nest in a deep hole beneath the ground. I dis- 

 sected several specimens : the gizzard, which was very muscu- 

 lar, contained beetles, vegetable fibres, and pebbles. From this 

 character, from the length of its legs, scratching feet, membran- 

 ous covering to the nostrils, short and arched wings, this bird 

 seems in a certain degree to connect the thrushes with the galli- 

 naceous order. 



