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 region. 



During the summer the huemules leave the lower grounds, 



BEST HEAD OF HUEMUL {XENEI.APHUS HlSULCUi) SHOT BY THE AUTHOR. SIDE VIEW 



(Photo by W. H. Brigden, 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 living near 

 Lake Argentino, informed me that he had seen a large herd of 

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

 weather I 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 they generally 

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

 them inhabiting the margins of the dense forests upon the slopes 

 of the Cordillera which border the lakes. They are excellent 



