The Desert Pampas. 19 



dragged like an idle rope behind it ! Yet, if one is 

 brought to a tree, it will take to it as readily as a 

 duck to water, or an armadillo to earth, climbing 

 up the trunk and about the branches with a monkey- 

 like agility. How reluctant Nature seems in some 

 cases to undo her own work ! How long she will 

 allow a specialized organ, with the correlated 

 instinct, to rest without use, yet ready to flash forth 

 on the instant, bright and keen-edged, as in the 

 ancient days of strife, ages past, before peace came 

 to dwell on earth ! 



The avi-fauna is relatively much richer than the 

 mammalia, owing to the large number of aquatic 

 species, most of which are migratory with their 

 " breeding" or " subsistence-areas " on the pampas. 

 In more senses than one they constitute a " floating 

 population," and their habits have in no way been 

 modified by the conditions of the country. The 

 order, including storks, ibises, herons, spoonbills, 

 and flamingoes, counts about eighteen species ; and 

 the most noteworthy birds in it are two great ibises 

 nearly as large as turkeys, with mighty resonant 

 voices. The duck order is very rich, numbering at 

 least twenty species, including two beautiful upland 

 geese, winter visitors from Magellanic lands, and 

 two swans, the lovely black-necked, and the pure 

 white with rosy bill. Of rails, or ralline birds, 

 there are ten or twelve, ranging from a small 

 spotted creature no bigger than a thrush to some 

 large majestic birds. One is the courlan, called 

 " crazy widow " from its mourning plumage and 

 long melancholy screams, which on still evenings 

 may be heard a league away. Another is the 



