IRREGULAR TROOPS. 
CHAPTER V 
Bahia Blanca—Geology—Numerous gigantic extinct Quadrupeds—Recent Extinction 
—Longevity of Species—Large Animals do not require a luxuriant Vegetation— 
Southern Africa—Siberian Fossils—Two Species of Ostrich—Habits of Oven- 
bird—Armadilloes—Venomous Snake, Toad, Lizard—Hybernation of Animals— 
Habits of Sea-Pen — Indian Wars and Massacres — Arrowhead, antiquarian 
Relic. 
BAHIA BLANCA 
The Beagle arrived here on the 24th of August, and a week 
afterwards sailed for the Plata. With Captain Fitz Roy’s 
consent I was left behind, to travel by land to Buenos Ayres. 
I will here add some observations, which were made during 
this visit and on a previous occasion, when the Beagle was 
employed in surveying the harbour. 
The plain, at the distance of a few miles from the coast, 
