Sept. 1833. 



PAMPAS. 



133 



Indians^ but chiefly for improving the pasture. In grassy 

 plains unoccupied by the larger ruminating quadrupeds^ it 

 seems necessary to remove by fire the superfluous vegeta- 

 tion^ so as to render serviceable the new year's growth. 



The rancho at this place did not boast even of a roof^ but 

 merely consisted of a ring of thistle- stalks^ to break the force 

 of the wind. It was situated on the borders of an extensive 

 but shallow lake^, swarming with wild fowl^ among which the 

 black-necked swan was conspicuous. 



The kind of plover^ which appears is if mounted on stilts, 

 [Himantopus melanura) is here common in flocks of consi- 

 derable size. It has been wrongfully accused of inelegance ; 

 when wading about in shallow water, which is its favourite 

 resort, its gait is far from awkward. These birds in a flock 

 utter a noise, that singularly resembles the cry of a pack of 

 small dogs in full chase : waking in the night, I have more 

 than once been for a moment startled at the distant sound. 

 The teru-tero {Vanellus cayanensis)^ is another bird, which 

 often disturbs the stillness of the night. In appearance and 

 habits it resembles in many respects our peewits ; its wings, 

 however, are armed with sharp spurs, like those on the legs 

 of the common cock. As our peewit takes its name from 

 the sound of its voice, so does the teru-tero. While riding 

 over the grassy plains, one is constantly pursued by these 

 birds, which appear to hate mankind, and I am sure deserve 

 to be hated, for their never-ceasing, unvaried, harsh screams. 

 To the sportsman they are most annoying, by telling every 

 other bird and animal of his approach : to the traveller in the 

 country, they may possibly, as Molina says, do good, by 

 warning him of the midnight robber. During the breeding 

 season, they attempt, like our peewits, by feigning to be 

 wounded, to draw away from their nests dogs and other ene- 

 mies. The eggs of this bird are esteemed a great delicacy. 



September 16th. — To the seventh posta at the foot of 

 the Sierra Tapalguen. The country was quite level, with a 

 coarse herbage and a soft peaty soil. The hovel was there re- 

 markably neat, the posts and rafters being made of about a 



