68 PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS : NARRATIVE. 



the move, he hops from branch to branch, the brown tail, ornamented 

 with delicate cross-bars of a darker shade, standing erect. If disturbed 

 the head is suddenly elevated and each feather of its delicate crest thrown 

 on end, as he violently stamps his feet, accompanying each movement 

 with a series of sharp, discordant notes, which are hurled with great 

 volume and rapidity from the delicate throat and heaving breast. At 

 such moments the entire attitude of this tiny creature is defiant and is the 

 cause of no little amusement to the intruder. Flocks of the red-breasted 

 meadow lark, Trupialis militaris, may be seen flitting about among the 

 larger bushes. Phrygilus melanoderus, the black-throated sparrow with 

 yellow and lilac shoulders, is also common, while the chestnut-crowned 

 song sparrow, Zonotrichia canicapilla, is omnipresent here, as elsewhere 

 in Patagonia. Scarcely a moment throughout the day that its cheerful 

 notes could not be heard. In storm or sunshine they would break into 

 sweetest song, as though to dissipate a little the solitude and loneliness 

 of the surroundings. Aside from these smaller birds, the projecting ledges 

 of the overhanging cliffs, towering to a height of two hundred and fifty 

 feet, were the favorite haunts of the condor and various large hawks and 

 owls. The many cracks and crevices in the surface of the landslide were 

 frequented by a host of small rodents, while the beautiful little gray fox 

 or wild dog, Cams azarce, was also plentiful here, as everywhere through- 

 out the Patagonian plains. This little carnivore, while commonly called 

 a fox, belongs more properly to the lupine or thooid series of Canidce than 

 to the vulpine or alopecoid series. Not only is its structure wolf-like 

 rather than fox-like, but its habits are also decidedly more similar to those 

 of the wolves than of the foxes. It is both nocturnal and diurnal, not at 

 all shy and easily approached. These animals are of an extremely playful 

 and mischievous disposition, but without any of the cunning which, by 

 common consent, has been ascribed to the foxes. At times their actions 

 and deportment are not unlike those of a half-grown shepherd dog. 

 They are extremely fond of rawhide or leather, and when by any chance 

 articles made of either were left about camp within their reach for any 

 length of time, such articles were sure to be found in an entirely ruined 

 condition. This necessitated our placing everything beyond their reach 

 when not in actual use. On one occasion I loaned my saddle and 

 bridle and the borrower, on returning them in the evening, was not care- 

 ful to place the latter in a safe place. As a consequence when I next 



