316 The Naturalist in La Plata. 



it is gregarious, and is usually seen in small herds, 

 but herds numbering several hundreds or even a 

 thousand are occasionally met with on the stony, 

 desolate plateaus of Southern Patagonia; but the 

 huanaco is able to thrive and grow fat where almost 

 any other herbivore would starve. While the herd 

 feeds one animal acts as sentinel, stationed on the 

 hillside, and on the appearance of danger utters a 

 shrill neigh of alarm, and instantly all take to flight. 

 But although excessively shy and wary they are 

 also very inquisitive, and have enough intelligence 

 to know that a single horseman can do them no 

 harm, for they will not only approach to look closely 

 at him, but will sometimes follow him for miles. 

 They are also excitable, and at times indulge in 

 strange freaks. Darwin writes : — " On the mountains 

 of Tierra del JFuego I have more than once seen 

 a huanaco, on being approached, not only neigh 

 and squeal, but prance and leap about in a most 

 ridiculous manner, apparently in defiance as a 

 challenge." And Captain King relates that while 

 sailing into Port Desire he witnessed a chase of a 

 huanaco after a fox, both animals evidently going 

 at their greatest speed, so that they soon passed 

 out of sight. I have known some tame huanacos, 

 and in that state they make amusing intelligent 

 pets, fond of being caressed, but often so frolicsome 

 and mischievous as to be a nuisance to their master. 

 It is well known that at the southern extremity 

 of Patagonia the huanacos have a dying place, a 

 spot to which all individuals inhabiting the surround- 

 ing plains repair at the approach of death to deposit 

 their bones. Darwin and Fitzroy first recorded 



