THE LARGER MAMMALS OF PATAGONIA 251 



this deer will remain watching, and without moving, for a great 

 length of time. On one occasion I saw near Lake Argentino a 

 buck and doe about a quarter of a mile away. I was lying under 

 a bush watching some wild catde, a herd of which were above me 

 against the snow-line, and the huemules stood and watched me for 

 nearly an hour. They were some ten yards from each other. 

 Presently the cattle moved, and I followed them upwards. I 

 returned unsuccessful in the evening to the spot, not having fired a 

 shot, and found the two deer still watching my horse, which was 

 tied up on the shore of the lake. 



On one or two occasions when I have fired at a huemul 

 the others of the herd have run towards the noise. Once this 

 happened when I was in full sight of the animals. 



Musters, in his travels through Patagonia, mentions a "red" 

 deer. Of this I could find no trace, so that in all probability he 

 alluded to the huemul under that name ; the reddish tinge of the 

 huemul's hair lends likelihood to this suggestion. 



No. 2. Puma [F'elis conco lor puma). 



[Leon of the Argentines ; Gol of the Tehuelches.) 



This is the silver-grey variety of puma most commonly met 

 with in Patagonia. The distribution of this animal extends over 

 the entire country. It is to be found in the Cordillera as on the 

 pampas. I came upon tracks of this animal at the end of the 

 north-west fjord of Lake Argentino about long. 73° 14', and I also 

 saw a puma at the south-western extremity of that lake. 



Evidence of their existence accompanied the whole itinerary of 

 the expedition throughout the entire route it covered. The number 

 of pumas in Patagonia is very great, more so than any zoologist 

 has yet given an idea of During one winter two pioneers killed 

 seventy-three near Lake Argentino. Near San Julian immense 

 numbers are yearly destroyed, but lately, owing to the advent of 

 settlers, they are becoming less numerous. At Bahia Camerones, 

 on the farm of Mr. Greenshields, fourteen pumas were killed 

 during the winter of 1900. 



A female killed near Santa Cruz measured 6 ft. 10 in., and a 

 male killed near Lake Argentino 8 ft. i in. 



The puma can easily be galloped down, as it rarely runs more 



