^he Desert Pampas. 2 7 



commanding stature gives it a wide horizon ; and 

 its dim, pale, bluish-grey colour assimilates to that 

 of the haze, and renders it invisible at even a mode- 

 rate distance. Its large form fades out of sight 

 mysteriously, and the hunter strains his eyes in vain 

 to distinguish it on the blue expanse. Its figure 

 and carriage have a quaint majestic grace, somewhat 

 unavian in character, and peculiar to itself. There 

 are few more strangely fascinating sights in nature 

 than that of the old black-necked cock bird, stand- 

 ing with raised agitated wings among the tall plumed 

 grasses, and calling together his scattered hens 

 with hollow boomiugs and long mysterious suspira- 

 tions, as if a wind blowing high up in the void sky 

 had found a voice. Rhea-hunting with the bolas, 

 on a horse possessing both speed and endurance, 

 and trained to follow the bird in all his quick 

 doublings, is unquestionably one of the most fasci- 

 nating forms of sport ever invented by man. The 

 quarry has even more than that fair chance of 

 escape, without which all sport degenerates into 

 mere butchery, unworthy of rational beings ; more- 

 over, in this unique method of hunting the ostrich 

 the capture depends on a preparedness for all the 

 shifts and sudden changes of course practised by 

 the bird when closely followed, which is like instinct 

 or intuition ; and, finally, in a dexterity in casting 

 the bolas at the right moment, with a certain aim, 

 which no amount of practice can give to those who 

 are not to the manner born. 



This * wild mirth of the desert,' which the gaucho 

 has known for the last three centuries, is now pass- 

 ing away, for the rhea's fleetness can no longer 



