1882.] 
Analyses of Books. 
4*3 
humming-bird ( Sparganuva sappho). The author considers 
Chrysotis amazonica, a green, red, and yellow parrot, to be 
capable of a higher education than the well-known grey African 
species ( Psittacns erythacus). 
It is curious that in the upper provinces of La Plata, though 
intermittent fever (Chuchu) is common, there is a deeply-rooted 
prejudice against the use of quinine, which the natives consider 
rapidly destroys the coats of the stomach. Mr. White, like not 
a few eye-witnesses, both in La Plata and other regions, not 
forgetting our own colonies, notes with regret that English 
manufacturers do not push their interests as they might, and 
that our goods are thus losing ground, not from inferiority of 
quality or higher cost. This apathy in face of the frantic efforts 
made to oust us from the markets of the world is something- 
remarkable. 
At Tucuman goitre is very common, affeCting about one-half 
per cent of the natives. It is said to indicate metallic ores, and 
in those districts where it is most severe limestone does not 
occur. The railway from Tucuman to Cordova passes over the 
so-called Salinas, sometimes a plain of glittering salt, but, when 
Mr. White passed, covered with water, and tenanted by red 
flamingoes in hundreds of thousands. 
At Singuil the condors commit dreadful havoc among cattle in 
spite of the war waged against them with bullet and poison. In 
the neighbourhood of Andalgala the vines are standards and 
yield very heavy crops of fruit. Here the author was in want of 
small shot, and being desirous of capturing some of the smaller 
Trochilidcc he tried sand and rice. The former stunned the bird 
but destroyed the plumage, whilst rice broke up in the discharge. 
The attempt to secure the birds by means of arsenical syrup 
introduced into flowers met with very little success. Most of 
the species detected the danger, though a Patagona gigas im- 
bibed the poison, became immediately ill, vomited, and was 
found dead the next morning. 
In the neighbourhood of the Aconquija range a peculiar 
disease attacks strange mules. Animals reared in the district 
and men generally are exempt from its ravages. A dry and 
clear air neutralises the virus, but in damp weather or rain the 
animals are seized with trembling, succeeded by violent convul- 
sions, which quickly prove fatal. The cause of this strange 
affedtion is unknown. 
At Colalao every seven years a flood of sand and mud descends 
down the small river, covers the land, and even invades the 
houses to the depth of seven or eight feet. 
The Lenconerpes Candidas, a species of woodpecker, goes 
about in families, and passes up a tree from the root to the very 
top of the stem in corkscrew fashion in a single slow-moving file, 
each head touching the preceding tail. 
Irrigation-canals, however useful in regions where moisture is 
