1834.] CANNIBAL MICE. 183 



extremely uninteresting. The complete similarity of the 

 productions throughout Patagonia is one of its most 

 striking characters. The level plains of arid shingle 

 support the same stunted and dwarf plants ; and in the 

 valleys the same thorn-bearing bushes grow. Everywhere 

 we see the same birds and insects. Even the very banks 

 of the river and of the clear streamlets which entered it, 

 were scarcely enlivened by a brighter tint of green. The 

 curse of sterility is on the land, and the water flowing 

 over a bed of pebbles partakes of the same curse. Hence 

 the number of waterfowl is very scanty ; for there is 

 nothing to support life in the stream of this barren river. 



Patagonia, poor as she is in some respects, can, however, 

 boast of a greater stock of small rodents* than perhaps 

 any other country in the world. Several species of mice 

 are externally characterized by large thin ears and a very 

 fine fur. These little animals swarm amongst the thickets 

 in the valleys, where they cannot for months together taste 

 a drop of water excepting the dew. They all seem to be 

 cannibals ; for no sooner was a mouse caught in one of 

 my traps than it was devoured by others. A small and 

 delicately - shaped fox, which is likewise very abundant, 

 probably derives its entire support from these small animals. 

 The guanaco is also in its proper district ; herds of fifty or 

 a hundred were common ; and, as I have stated, we saw 

 one which must have contained at least five hundred. The 

 puma, with the condor and other carrion - hawks in its 

 train, follows and preys upon these animals. The footsteps 

 of the puma were to be seen almost everywhere on the 

 banks of the river ; and the remains of several guanacos, 

 with their necks dislocated and bones broken, showed how 

 they had met their death. 



April 2/\fh. — Like the navigators of old when approach- 

 ing an unknown land, we examined and watched for the 

 most trivial sign of a change. The drifted trunk of a tree, 

 or a boulder of primitive rock, was hailed with joy, as if 

 we had seen a forest growing on the flanks of the Cordillera. 

 The top, however, of a heavy bank of clouds, which re- 

 mained almost constantly in one position, was the most 

 promising sign, and eventually turned out a true harbinger. 

 At first the clouds were mistaken for the mountains 



The desert* of Syria are characterized, accordinflr to Volney (torn, i., 

 !ii), bv woody bushes, numerous rats, gazelles, and hares. In the land- 

 (ic of Patagonia, the g^uanaco replaces the gar.clle, and the afpoub* the hare. 



