THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 109 



very peculiar, being something between the belling of a deer 

 and the neigh of a horse. When at a distance, and fired at 

 with the rifle, they in general go through some very singular 

 antics, ducking down their heads, and as it were falling on their 

 knees on the ground — a habit which often at first induced our 

 men to suppose that they were severely wounded, when they 

 were in reality jjerfectly intact. Mr. Darwin has commented 

 on the singular habit which they possess of depositing their 

 droppings on successive days in the same defined heap, and 

 this I have likewise frequently observed. It would be 

 difficult to over-estimate their numbers on the Patagonian 

 plains ; for in whatever direction we walked we always came 

 upon numbers of portions of their skeletons and detached bones. 

 Their two principal enemies are the Patagonian Indians and 

 the puma, as they constitute the principal food of both. 

 The flesh is somewhat dry, and with very little fat, but is 

 very palatable, particularly in the absence of other fresh 

 provisions ; and the skin is invaluable to the Patagonians, 

 as furnishing the material of which their long robes are 

 constructed. Occasionally bezoar stones are to be met with 

 in the stomach, which are regarded by the Patagonians as of 

 medicinal value. 



On the morning of the 2d of January we again arose at an 

 early hour, and while the surveyors were engaged in their 

 work, I took a long walk into the plains by myself, and from 

 the brow of a low hill gained another view of a herd of 

 guanaco, which allowed me to approach them, creeping on all 

 fours, to within about a hundred yards, and then made off. On 

 joining the surveying party soon after noon, I found that one of 

 the men had killed a small quadruped new to us. This was 

 the chinche, zorillo, or skunk {McioJiitis Patagonicd), a beauti- 

 ful little animal about a foot long, with a bushy tail ; of 



