HYDROCHi^RUS CAPVBARA OR WATER-HOG. 



CHAPTER III 



Monte Video — Maldonado — Excursion to R. Polanco — Lazo and Bolas — Partridges — 

 Absence of Trees — Deer — Capybara, or River Hog — Tucutuco — Molothrus, 

 cuckoo-like habits — Tyrant - flycatcher — Mocking-bird — Carrion Hawks — ■ 

 Tubes formed by Lightning — House struck. 



MALDONADO 



July ^th, 1832. — In the morning we got under way, and 

 stood out of the splendid harbour of Rio de Janeiro. In our 

 passage to the Plata, we saw nothing particular, excepting on 

 one day a great shoal of porpoises, many hundreds in number. 

 The whole sea was in places furrowed by them ; and a most 

 extraordinary spectacle was presented, as hundreds, proceeding 

 together by jumps, in which their whole bodies were exposed, 

 thus cut the water. When the ship was running nine knots an 

 hour, these animals could cross and recross the bows with the 



