76 BULLETIN 1400, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
acacias, and the palmeros, the last usually with grass growing under- 
neath. In this region are innumerable spiny bushes, shrubs, and 
cacti. The prairie regions on both sides of the river are covered with 
pasto duro (bunch grass, pampas grass, etc.) that is good for pasture 
only during the early stages of its growth. Between the bunch grass 
are various species of finer grasses. The marshes are grown up 
solidly with reeds and aquatic plants, and are covered with thickets 
of spiny shrubs overgrown with vines. Generally the trees are 
covered with moss, lichens, and climbing vines, some of which are 
enormous, as well as many varieties of orchids and other air plants. 
Thickets of bamboo grow along the streams and rivers and even in 
the mountains, many of them 5 to 6 inches in diameter and 45 feet 
in height. Among the wild plants are cannas and several other 
varieties of liliaceous plants. The wild geranium is widely dis- 
tributed, the flowers being scarlet, purple, or white. Clovers and 
medicagoes are not seen. 
NATIVE ANIMALS 
The animal life of Paraguay, like the vegetation, is rich in species 
aod varieties. Azara, 17 a Spanish surveyor who explored the country 
at the close of the eighteenth century, describes more than 400 species 
of birds. The most common birds to be seen at the present time are 
vultures, hawks, parrots, parrakeets, and waterfowl, including ducks, 
herons, and swans. The parrot tribe is probably most numerous, 
said to be so numerous that the small grains can not be grown success- 
fully because the parrots come in great flocks and devour the grain 
as fast as it forms. Humming birds and partridges are plentiful. In 
a long day's ride through a wide and generally open country not a 
single owl, rabbit, dove, or meadow lark (pecho Colorado), so common 
in Argentina, was seen. 
The South American leopard (jaguar or tiger) is said to be rather 
common, as well as deer and wild hogs. Monkeys and the small 
armadillo (peludo or muleta) are plentiful in many regions. Rep- 
tiles are abundant, especially the jacarey or small alligator, which 
can be seen by the hundreds sunning themselves on the banks of the 
Paraguay and other rivers and lagoons. Among the snakes may be 
counted rattlesnakes and a species of boa 15 to 18 feet in length. 
Butterflies of brilliant color and giant moths are abundant. Flies, 
mosquitoes, and ants are great pests, as are the many other stinging 
and biting insects. Flies are everywhere, and certain writers speak 
of swarms of them so great as to appear like a column of smoke. 
Mosquitoes that are active, enterprising, voracious, and poisonous 
are present everywhere. Travelers in some of the regions require 
mosquito protectors over their faces and hands even in the daytime. 
Ants are universal and are a serious pest for all crop plants. In the 
open prairies, especially in the lower areas, they build nests of earth 
3 or more feet in height, conically shaped, and hard as a brick. 
These groups of nests sometimes cover several square miles in extent 
and are spaced irregularly from 9 to 45 feet apart. Isolated nests 
1 7 Azara, Felix de. Viajes por la America meridional . . . Publicados con arreglo a los manuscritos del 
autor, con una noticia sobre su vida y sus escritos, por C. A. Walckenaer . . . Tr. del Frances por Francisco 
de las Barras de Aragon. (Madrid) Calpe, 1923. 1. 1-2. (Viajes clasicos) . 
