1832.] ESTUARY OF THE PLATA. 37 



CHAPTER III. 



Monte Video Maldouudo Excursion to R. Polauco Lazo and Bolus 

 Partridges Absence of Trees Deer Capybara, or River Hog Tucu- 

 tuco Molothrus, cuckoo-like habits Tyraut-flycatcbev Mocking-bird 

 Carrion Hawks Tubes formed by Lightning House struck. 



MALDOXADO. 



July 5tk, 183'2. In the morning we got under way, and stood out 

 of the splendid harbour of Piio de Janeiro. In our passage to the 

 Plata, we saw nothing particular, excepting on one day a great 

 shoal of porpoises, many hundreds in number. The whole sea was 

 in places furrowed by them ; and a most extraordinary spectacle 

 was presented, as hundreds, proceeding together by jumps, in 

 which their whole bodies were exposed, thus cut the Water. When 

 the ship was running nine knots an hour, these animals could cross 

 and recvoss the bows with the greatest ease, and then dash away 

 right ahead. As soon as we entered the estuary of the Plata, the 

 weather was very unsettled. One dark night we were surrounded 

 by numerous seals and penguins, which made such strange noises, 

 that the officer on watch reported he could hear the cattle bellow- 

 ing on shore. On a second night we witnessed a splendid scene of 

 natural fireworks ; the mast-head and yard-arm-ends shone with 

 St. Elmo's light ; and the form of the vane could almost be traced, 

 as if it had been rubbed with phosphorus. The sea was so highly 

 luminous, that the tracks of the penguins were marked by a fiery 

 wake, and the darkness of the sky was momentarily illuminated by 

 the most vivid lightning. 



When within the mouth of the river, I was interested by observing 

 how slowly the waters of the sea and river mixed. The latter, 

 muddy and discoloured, from its less specific gravity, floated on 

 the surface of the salt water. This was curiously exhibited in the 



