BAHIA BLANCA. 103 



back in the morning we came aci'oss a very fresh 

 track of a Puma, but did not succeed in finding it. 

 We saw also a couple of Zorillos, or skunks — 

 odious animals, which are far from uncommon. 

 In general appearance the Zorillo resembles a pole- 

 cat, but it is rather larger, and much thicker in pro- 

 portion. Conscious of its power, it roams by day 

 about the open plain, and fears neither dog nor 

 man. If a dog is urged to the attack, its courage 

 is instantly checked by a few drops of the fetid oil, 

 which brings on violent sickness and running at 

 the nose. Whatever is once polluted by it is for- 

 ever useless. Azara says the smell can be per- 

 ceived at a league distant ; more than once, when 

 entering the harbour of Monte Video, the wind be- 

 ing offshore, we have perceived the odour on board 

 the Beagle. Certain it is, that every animal most 

 willingly makes room for the Zorillo. 



CHAPTER V. 



Bahia Blanca — Geology — Numerous gigantic extinct Quadru- 

 peds — Recent Extinction — Longevity of Species — Large Ani- 

 mals do not require a luxuriant vegetation — Southern Africa — 

 Siberian Fossils — Two Species of Ostrich — Habits of Oven- 

 bird— Armadilloes — Venomous Snake, Toad, Lizard — Hyber- 

 nation of Animals — Habits of Sea-Pen — Indian Wars and 

 Massacres — Arrow-head, antiquarian Relic. 



BAHIA BLANCA. 



The Beagle arrived here on the 24th of August, 

 and a week afterwards sailed for the Plata. With 

 Captain Fitz Roy's consent I was left behind, to 

 travel by land to Buenos Ayres. I will here add 

 some observations, which were made during this 

 visit and on a previous occasion, when the Beagle 

 was employed in surveying the harbour. 



