THE LARGER MAMMALS OF PATAGONIA 249 



a couple of miles from the shore of Lake Buenos Aires upon its 

 north-eastern side. The Indians said that these deer were at one 

 time more numerous in that reo-ion. 



Durinp- the summer the huemules leave the lower orounds, 



BEST HEAD OF HUKMUL {XEXHL.IPHLS BISULCU^) SHOT BY THE AUTHOR. SIDE VIEW 



(Photo by IC //. lirigden, Horsham) 



where the mosquitoes trouble them, and travel up to the snow-line 

 of the Cordillera and even beyond it. At this season I never saw 

 a large herd, but in the winter Mr. Cattle, a pioneer li\inL;- near 

 Lake Aroentino, informed me that he had seen a larw herd ot 

 over a hundred strong- that visited the lake. In the warmer 

 weather 1 noticed them usually in small parties of two or three, 

 seldom more. 



These animals are in the habit of wandering outside the forests 

 in the evening- and forenoon, but in the afternoon thev generallv 

 retire to their shelter, where they often lie down. I have found 

 them inhabiting the margins of the dense forests ui)on the slopes 

 of the Cordillera which border the lakes. Thev are excellent 



