48 HUNTING CAMPS. 



all much wilder and more difficult of access than their 

 less experienced fellows about Lake Buenos Aires ; but, 

 though some of these had good heads, I was often 

 obliged to pass them by, as the report of a rifle would 

 have frightened away the greater game. 



While going back to camp one evening I saw an 

 animal sneaking along the shore of the lake, which I 

 soon made out to be a Magellan wolf or fox. As it was 

 moving rapidly I was very much surprised when a long 

 shot hit it. The wolf snapped at the wound and 

 vanished into some brush. I followed it, and as I came 

 close it dragged itself out and ran at me. Before I 

 could fire its teeth were fixed in my putties, when 

 I killed it with a kick. Although a small animal, 

 measuring but three feet four to six inches from the 

 teeth to the tip of the tail, these red wolves are most 

 courageous ; they seem to have no fear whatever of 

 man. In another district one of them ate the leather 

 slings of my rifle from the tent in which I was 

 sleeping, and next morning, instead of making off, 

 remained under a bush in the camp, where I shot 

 it. On a third occasion that I remember I had killed 

 an ibis, and as I walked up a wolf ran out and seized 

 the bird right in front of me. When I came close it 

 dropped the ibis, but stood growling and snarling over 

 it, disputing possession until I was within a yard or 

 two, when it ran to attack me, only, of course, to receive 

 the second barrel of my gun. The immediate vicinity 

 of the cordillera appears to be the habitat of these 

 Magellan wolves, for I never met with them elsewhere. 



In fact, the best sport in Patagonia is to be obtained 

 in the neighbourhood of the Andes, for about their 

 lower spurs and foothills, as well as upon the country 



