176 
PORT DESIRE 
CHAP. 
told me that he one day saw through a glass a herd of these 
animals which evidently had been frightened, and were running 
away at full speed, although their distance was so great that he 
could not distinguish them with his naked eye. The sportsman 
frequently receives the first notice of their presence, by hearing 
from a long distance their peculiar shrill neighing note of alarm. 
If he then looks attentively, he will probably see the herd stand¬ 
ing in a line on the side of some distant hill. On approaching 
nearer, a few more squeals are given, and off they set at an 
apparently slow, but really quick canter, along some narrow beaten 
track to a neighbouring hill. If, however, by chance he abruptly 
meets a single animal, or several together, they will generally 
stand motionless and intently gaze at him ; then perhaps move 
on a few yards, turn round, and look again. What is the cause 
of this difference in their shyness ? Do they mistake a man in 
the distance for their chief enemy the puma ? Or does curiosity 
overcome their timidity ? That they are curious is certain ; for 
if a person lies on the ground, and plays strange antics, such as 
throwing up his feet in the air, they will almost always approach 
by degrees to reconnoitre him. It was an artifice that was 
repeatedly practised by our sportsmen with success, and it had 
moreover the advantage of allowing several shots to be fired, 
which were all taken as parts of the performance. On the 
mountains of Tierra del Fuego, I have more than once seen a 
guanaco, on being approached, not only neigh and squeal, but 
prance and leap about in the most ridiculous manner, apparently 
in defiance as a challenge. These animals are very easily 
domesticated, and I have seen some thus kept in Northern 
Patagonia near a house, though not under any restraint. They 
are in this state very bold, and readily attack a man by striking 
him from behind with both knees. It is asserted that the 
motive for these attacks is jealousy on account of their females. 
The wild guanacos, however, have no idea of defence ; even a 
single dog will secure one of these large animals, till the hunts¬ 
man can come up. In many of their habits they are like sheep 
in a flock. Thus when they see men approaching in several 
directions on horseback, they soon become bewildered, and 
know not which way to run. This greatly facilitates the Indian 
method of hunting, for they are thus easily driven to a central 
point, and are encompassed. 
