146 BAHIA BLANCA TO BUENOS AYREri. 



dilloes and partridges. When riding through the 

 country, it is a common practice to set fire to the 

 plain ; and hence at night, as on this occasion, the 

 horizon was illuminated in several places by brill- 

 iant conflagrations. This is done partly for the 

 sake of puzzling any stray Indians, but chiefly for 

 improving the pasture. In grassy plains unoccu- 

 pied by the larger ruminating quadrupeds, it seems 

 necessary to remove the superfluous vegetation by 

 fire, so as to render the new year's gi'owth service- 

 able. 



The rancho at this place did not boast even of a 

 roof, but merely consisted of a ring of thistle-stalks, 

 to break the force of the wind. It was situated on 

 the borders of an extensive but shallow lake, 

 swaiTuing with wild fowl, among which the black- 

 necked swan was conspicuous. 



The kind of plover, which appears as if mount- 

 ed on stilts (Himantopus nigricollis), is here com- 

 mon in flocks of considerable size. It has been 

 wi'ongfully accused of inelegance ; when wading 

 about in shallow water, which is its favourite re- 

 sort, its gait is far from awkward. These birds in 

 a flock utter a noise, that singularly resembles the 

 cry of a pack of small dogs in full chase : waking 

 in the night, I have more than once been for a mo- 

 ment startled at the distant sound. The teru-tero 

 (Vanellus cayanus) is another bird which often 

 disturbs the stillness of the night. In appearance 

 and habits it resembles in many respects our pee- 

 wits ; its wings, however, are armed with sharp 

 spurs, like those on the legs of the common cock. 

 As our peewit takes its name from the sound of 

 its voice, so does the teru-tero. While riding over 

 the grassy plains, one is constantly pursued by 

 these birds, which appear to hate mankind, and I 

 am sure deserve to be hated for their never-ceasing, 



