Mr Dcdrjhish on Birds and Eggs from Centred Uruguay. 235 



The dark recesses of these woods, or " montes," as they are 

 termed, are almost impenetrable in places from the prickly 

 climbers and underwood, and they are generally fringed with 

 thorny plants. The manner in which these woods are con- 

 fined to the borders of the rivers and streams is very remark- 

 able. The river is frequently sunk to a depth of 15 to 20 

 feet below the level of the valley, as in the case of the 

 Eio Negro, and although averaging from 100 to 200 yards 

 wide, it seems hidden between its steep banks, covered with 

 trees and shrubs, which, when seen from a rising o-round, 

 mark out its course with well defined precision, and give the 

 appearance of a green river, whose shade of colour varies 

 with the season of the year. At certain points the trees 

 thin out, and passes are left leading to fords, b}^ which the 

 rivers can, at ordinary times, be passed. 



The vegetation of the campos is said to have undergone 

 great modification in recent times, owing to the introduction 

 of grazing, having become less coarse and lofty, although, on 

 the other hand, they have suffered from the introduction of 

 several obnoxious foreign plants. The most prejudicial of 

 these has been the European thistle, which has overspread 

 vast tracts, not only of Uruguay, but of Buenos Ayres, as 

 far even as the confines of Patagonia. Darwin describes 

 even in his time several hundred square miles in the south- 

 west of Uruguay, as covered by them, and impenetrable to 

 man or beast. They are often of great height, completely 

 shutting out the view, and hiding the landmarks. The 

 campos consist, as above mentioned, of undulating plains 

 broken only by the rivers and streams, by which they are 

 watered, and by the " cuchillas," or hilly ranges, and it may be 

 by a stray ombu tree {Phytolacca dioica). This latter, although 

 a large, handsome tree, is remarkable for the curious pith- 

 like stem, which, while sometimes reaching the height of 

 20 or 30 feet, " retains so much of herbaceous softness 

 that it may be cut like an enormous carrot." Until a 

 very recent period agriculture had made almost no way, 

 the attention of the Estancieros being entirely devoted to 

 grazing, but the former bids fair soon to assume an im- 

 portant position. The country also, a few years ago entirely 



