Expedition to Tucuman and Salta. 425 
June 17. Left early, arriving at night at the Posta Pa- 
lonite. The scenery is beautiful, as usual, but the soil is 
more arid as we go north, and the trees smaller. We are 
now on very high ground. At this post I had to pay two 
pence per head for my mules to drink, there being no natural 
spring in the neighbourhood, nor on the road from Rio 
Pasaje. One of the mules shows many signs of failing. 
Shot nothing. 
June 18. Left the posta about 11, arriving at 4 at Cobos, 
a small village of about 100 inhabitants, twelve miles. Nothing 
of interest to note. Water scarce on the road, but plentiful 
at Cobos. 
The road for Campo Santo leaves the Salta road here, the 
latter going W. by S., and the former N. 
June 19. Took a walk in the monte near Cobos. This 
village is situated on high ground amongst low broken Sierras. 
About two leagues south of Cobos is a large lagoon, contain- 
ing water throughout the year. It has lately been fenced in, 
the land having been sold by the government, and one has 
now to pay about two pence per head for animals to drink. 
It is a great shame, situated as it is by the roadside. Large 
Parrot, one shot, very common here. It does not usually go 
as far south as Tucuman, but here is very common; feeds on 
buds. Small Humming-bird, one shot, several seen. Hum- 
ming-birds are numerous here, though the verdure is not 
luxuriant. Black-and-white insect-eater, one shot, seen all 
the way from Tucuman; lives in thickets and shuns open 
places. Brown Finch, common, one shot. Little Black- 
bird, one shot, seen frequently all the way from Tucuman. 
This evening I caught a bat, which is common here, and 
which I have met with throughout the provinces of Tucuman 
and Salta, but have not been able to obtain before. It has a 
most curious fleshy shield, which arises from above the nostrils 
and stands erect about $ of an inch. It is very sparsely 
covered with hair. I presume it is an organ of feeling. 
Chauna chavaria and Cygnus coscoroba common in the la- 
goon “ Cabeza del buey.” 
June 20. Shot nothing and took a rest for the sake of the 
