1847.] JVotes on JYatural History. 255 



ance much resembles the rhea, and though smaller in size is a far 

 more beautiful bird. Its plumage is of a deeper hue and most 

 pleasingly mottled with white and black, the legs are shorter and 

 covered much farther down with feathers; in their habits they are 

 strikingly similar to the former species, but are found in smaller 

 numbers herding together, and do not so readily expand their 

 wings when taking to flight. Their eggs are fewer in number 

 and rather smaller in size, varying slightly in form and charac- 

 terised by possessing a beautiful tinge of blue. This species is 

 rarely found in the north, but inhabits the southern portion of 

 Patagonia, almost to the exclusion of the larger one. 



In rambling over the plains one day, our men caught a curious 

 little bird, which from its habit and general aspect, appears to 

 hold an intermediate station between the quail and snipe, and 

 which it greatly resembled, both in color and the peculiar mark- 

 ings of its plumage, so much so indeed as without difficulty to 

 deceive the eyes of the inexperienced observer. It was easily ob- 

 tained by carefully covering it with a hat while quietly squatting 

 on the ground for the purpose of concealment. They inhabit the 

 most sterile portions of the plain, either in pairs or small flocks 

 feeding together, and so common as to be seen at almost all times 

 of the day, dusting themselves in the dryest portion of the sand. 

 It is the Tinochorus rumicivorus of naturalists. 



Among the numerous reptiles belonging to these shores, the 

 most remarkable of the number is a venomous serpent whose poi- 

 son is of a most deadly nature. It is possessed of an exceedingly 

 fierce and hideous countenance, and has been placed by natural- 

 ists ni a position intermediate between the rattlesnake and viper, 

 but more closely approximating to the former. As a substitute 

 for the rattle, however, it is provided w^ith a peculiarly formed 

 tail, and w^henever approached or irritated in any degree, it rap- 

 idly vibrates it among the rigid grass or other vegetable substan- 

 ces, and produces a sound not unlike the noise of that formidable 

 reptile of the north. 



A remarkable looking little toad is likewise not unusually seen 

 in this region. It is of a perfectly black color, with the soles of 

 the feet, and breast stained of a bright vermillion hue. It is not 

 nocturnal like its associated species, but found during the hottest 

 hours of the day quietly basking in the sunshine among the dry 

 sandy hillocks and naked clayey portions of the plain. The 

 Indians have given to it a strange diabolical name not easily to 

 be recollected when heard pronounced by them. 



Besides these reptiles there is a singular lizard frequently to be 

 observed crawling over the surface of the ground, which, M'hen 

 approached, immediately feigns death, and from its curiously mot- 

 tled appearance, so closely resembles the earth upon which it lies, 



