270 CENTRAL CHILE, [cHap. X11. 
it never resumes this habit; but that having gorged itself, it wan- 
ders far away. The puma is easily killed. In an open country, 
it is first entangled with the bolas, then lazoed, and dragged 
along the ground till rendered insensible. At Tandeel (south 
of the Plata) I was told that within three months one hundred 
were thus destroyed. In Chile they are generally driven up 
bushes or trees, and are then either shot, or baited to death by 
dogs. The dogs employed in this chase belong to a particular 
breed, called Leoneros: they are weak, slight animals, like long- 
legged terriers, but are born with a particular instinct for this 
sport. The puma is described as being very crafty: when pur- 
sued, it often returns on its former track, and then: suddenly 
making a spring on one side, waits there till the dogs have 
passed by. It is a very silent animal, uttering no cry even when 
wounded, and only rarely during the breeding season. 
Of birds, two species of the genus Pteroptochos (megapodius 
and albicollis of Kittlitz) are perhaps the most conspicuous. 
The former, called by the Chilenos ‘el Turco,” is as large as a 
fieldfare, to which bird it has some alliance; but its legs are 
much longer, tail shorter, and beak stronger: its colour is a 
reddish brown. The Turco is not uncommon. It lives on the 
ground, sheltered among the thickets which are scattered over 
the dry and sterile hills. With its tail erect, and stilt-like legs, 
it may be seen every now and then popping from one bush to 
another with uncommon quickness. It really requires little ima- 
gination to believe that the bird is ashamed of itself, and is aware 
of its most ridiculous figure. On first seeing it, one is tempted 
to exclaim, ‘ A vilely stuffed specimen has escaped from some 
museum, and has come to life again!’ It cannot be made to 
take flight without the greatest troubie, nor does it run, but only 
hops. The various loud cries which it utters when concealed’ 
amongst the bushes, are as strange as its appearance. It is said 
to build its nest in a deep hole beneath the ground. I dis- 
sected several specimens: the gizzard, which was very muscu- 
lar, contained beetles, vegetable fibres, and pebbles. From this 
character, from the length of its legs, scratching feet, membran- 
ous covering to the nosirils, short and arched wings, this bird 
seems in a certain degree to connect the thrushes with the galli- 
naceous order. 
