i83S.] FAUNA OF CHONOS ISLANDS. 287 



throughout the tributaries of La Plata. It here, however, 

 exclusively frequents salt water ; which same circumstance 

 has been mentioned as sometimes occurring with the great 

 rodent, the Capybara. A small sea-otter is very numerous ; 

 this animal does not feed exclusively on fish, but, like the 

 seals, draws a large supply from a small red crab, which 

 swims in shoals near the surface of the water. Mr. Bynoe 

 saw one in Tierra del Fuego eating a cuttle-fish ; and at 

 Low's Harbour, another was killed in the act of carrying 

 to its hole a large volute shell. At one place I caught in 

 a trap a singular little mouse {M. hrachiotis) ; it appeared 

 common on several of the islets, but the Chilotans at Low's 

 Harbour said that it was not found in all. What a suc- 

 cession of chances,* or what changes of level must have 

 been brought into play, thus to spread these small animals 

 throughout this broken archipelago ! 



In all parts of Chiloe and Chonos, two very strange birds 

 occur, which are allied to, and replace, the Turco and 

 Tapacolo of Central Chile. One is called by the inhabitants 

 ** Cheucau" (/*/^ro/»/<9cAo,r rubecula): it frequents the most 

 gloomy and retired spots within the damp forests. Some- 

 times, although its cry may be heard close at hand, let a 

 person watch ever so attentively he will not see the cheucau ; 

 at other times, let him stand motionless and the red- 

 breasted little bird will approach within a few feet in the 

 most familiar manner. It then busily hops about the 

 entangled mass of rotting canes and oranches, with its 

 little tail cocked upwards. The cheucau is held in super- 

 stitious fear by the Chilotans, on account of its strange and 

 varied cries. There are three very distinct cries : one is 

 called "chiduco," and is an omen of good; another, 

 "huitreu," which is extremely unfavourable; and a third, 

 which I have forgotten. These words are given in imitation 

 of the noises ; and the natives are in some things absolute!} 

 governed by them. The Chilotans assuredly have chosen 

 a most comical little creature for their prophet. An allied 

 species, but rather larger, is called bv the natives *' Guid 

 guid " {rieroptochos Tamii)^ and by the English the 

 barking-bird. This latter name is well given ; for I defy 

 any one at first to feel, certain that a small dog is not 



• It i»« said that Rome rnpaciouii birds brinfr their prey alive to their nestii. If 

 •io, in the course of crntiiries, every now and then, one miffht esc.-ipc from the 

 ling birds. Some such agency is necessary, to account tor the dlNtribntiuii of 

 ' Hinallcr gnawing animals on islands not very near each other. 



