PORT DESIRE. [CHAP. vm. 



me, that lie one day saw through a glass a herd of these animals 

 which evidently had been frightened, and were running away at 

 full speed, although their distance was so great that he could not 

 distinguish them with his naked eye. The sportsman frequently 

 receives the first notice of their presence, by hearing from a long 

 distance their peculiar shrill neighing note of alarm. If he then 

 looks attentively, he will probably see the herd standing in a line 

 on the side of some distant hill. On approaching nearer, a few 

 more squeals are given, and off they set at an apparently slow, but 

 really quick canter, along some narrow beaten track to a neighbour- 

 ing hill. If, however, by chance he abruptly meets a single 

 animal, or several together, they will generally stand motionless 

 and intently gaze at him ; then perhaps move on a few yards, turn 

 round, and look again. What is the cause of this difference in 

 their shyness ? Do they mistake a man in the distance for their 

 chief enemy the puma ? Or does curiosity overcome their timidity ? 

 That they are curious is certain ; for if a person lies on the ground, 

 and plays strange antics, such as throwing up his feet in the air, 

 they will almost always approach by degrees to reconnoitre him. 

 It was an artifice that was repeatedly practised by our sportsmen 

 with success, and it had moreover the advantage of allowing 

 several shots to be fired, which were all taken as parts of the 

 performance. On the mountains of Tierra del Fuego, I have more 

 than once seen a guanaco, on being approached, not only neigh 

 and squeal, but prance and leap about in the most ridiculous 

 manner, apparently in defiance as a challenge. These animals are 

 very easily domesticated, and I have seen some thus kept in 

 northern Patagonia near a house, though not under any restraint. 

 They are in this state very bold, and readily attack a man by 

 striking him from behind with both knees. It is asserted that the 

 motive for these attacks is jealousy on account of their females. 

 The wild guanacos, however, have no idea of defence ; even a single 

 dog will secure one of these large animals, till the huntsman can 

 come up. In many of their habits they are like sheep in a flock. 

 Thus when they see men approaching in several directions on 

 horseback, they soon become bewildered, and know not which way 

 to run. This greatly facilitates the Indian method of hunting, for 

 they are thus easily driven to a central point, and are encom- 

 passed. 



The guanacos readily take to the water : several times at Port 



