178

Maldonado

1833 May

Ornithology a singular drumming noise as it suddenly stoops downwards in its flight; this it frequently repeats whilst flying round & round in a lofty circle.—

(1204) Lanius. (I call all these birds thus, although I believe the greater number belong to Muscicapa, & this species is not very common.— Iris bright red coloured.—

(b) (1205) Lanius.— very abundant, most beautiful; sits on a twig or thistle & habits like a true Lanius, but more quiet & not noisy.—

(1206) Muscicapa, common, sits on thistles & habits like English fly catcher, but does not so generally return to same twig; also feeds on the turf; in stomach coleoptera, chiefly Curculios.— beak, eye-lid, iris beautiful primrose yellow:—

(1207) Fringilla. common amongst the reeds in swamps, loud shrill cry: flight clumsy as if tail was disjointed: base of bill dusky orange.—

(1208) Arenaria. on sea beach

(1209) Fringilla. very abundant in large flocks, female specimen: male with head & throat gorge jet black, colours more brilliant.—

(1210) Alcedo. with long tail, frequents the borders of lakes; sits on a branch or stone & taking short flights dashes into the water to secure its prey.— as might be expected, it does not sit in that upright manner as the European Alcedo [Kingfisher], & the neither is the flight remarkably direct & rapid; but rather undulating as one of the soft billed birds.—

(c) (d) (1211) Icterus pecoris, common in flocks, often with Icterus (1201); frequently alights on the back of cattle: in the same flock there are frequently many brown specimens (1212).— are these one year birds as amongst European starlings?— Females?

[178v]

(a) not uncommon; flight weak & short: note low like the clicking of two small stones: in stomach fish, internal membrane of stomach bright orange colour.—

(b) the female has some grey on its back & shoulders.

(c) A flocking, when basking in the sun, in a hedge. Many of them sing, but the noise is most curious; resembling bubble of air passing through water from small orifice & rapidly, so as to give an acute sound. I at first thought it was a frog.—

(a) Stops in its flight & hovers over one place, as European, also when seated on twigs perpetually elevates & depresses its tail

(b) This & the foregoing bird seen to catch most of their insects in the air: they frequent the open camp & sit on thistle or twigs.—

(d) egg snow white. Found at Bahia Blanca

(a) Exceedingly abundant on the R. Parana. said to build its nest in trees.—

179

Maldonado

1833 May

Ornithology (d) (1213) Lanius with a long tail; very active in its habits, in its motions expands its fan tail in same manner as English magpie: is exceedingly abundant:— often near houses, from at which it feeds on the meat hung up & chaces away other small birds.— harsh note: generally in thickets.

(1214) Limosa. legs yellow; shot near a lake

(1215) Sylvia. shot in a Garden.—

(1216) Lanius. exceedingly abundant, in habits generally like a butcher bird; also I have often seen it hunting a field by fluttering in one place as a Hawk & then proceeding onwards: it does not, however, stoop so suddenly.— it often frequents the neighbourhead of water, & will in one place remain like a King fisher stationary; it thus catches small fish which come near the margin.— In the evening this bird seats itself on a branch & repeats continually a shrill rather agreeable note without any alteration; & which somewhat resembles some articulate words.—

(e) (1217, 1218) Xanthornus. common in large flocks.—

1219) Psittacus. common in small flocks; feeds on the open plain; there is also in this country a wood-pecker: one would not expect to find these two climbers common in a country where there are no trees.— 2500 said to be killed in one year on corn land near Colonia. build conjugating in trees. vast heap of sticks form joint nest; many in islands of R. Parana

b) (1220) Turdus? in small flocks; feeding on the plain, in its flight & habits resembling our field-fares.—

(f) (1221) Himantopus. legs rose pink.—

(a) (1222) Furnarius (?) common amongst the sand dunes. a quiet little bird.— I do not believe this bird is found South of R. Negro.—

(1223) Perdrix. very abundant; does not live in covies: runs more & does not lie so close

[179v]

(a) also frequent in the camp: walks, but not well: in stomach Coleoptera, chiefly Carabidous insects.—

(b) Hops, not walks: in stomach seeds & ants: iris rich brown: (b) I have seen this bird at Bahia Blanca; pursuing & catching on wing large Coleoptera.—

(a) When disturbed flies but a short distance; set down alights near bushes; is quiet & tame; is it a Furnarius? if so, habits very different from the active habits of "rufus".—

(c) flight undulatory; head as if weighed down by the bill.— When hovering much resembles Hawk:

(a) At certain times it utters a peculiar shrill reiterated cry (I especially noticed it at Bahia Blanca) in this respect its habits are similar in a small degree to the noisy Oven bird.—

(d) Besides the harsh note this bird has a short warbling song: & is the most musical of any I have heard in this country: yet it only deserves the name of song relatively to the other birds:— More generally frequents thickets & hedges;

(a) Dusts itself; in action in the evening; always very tame:—

(d) August 10th.— Shot at R. Negro specimen (1461).— Inhabiting wild desert plains: manners apparently rather different, wilder, does not seem to use its tail so much.— Alights on summit of twig & enlivens by a very sweet song the dreary plain.— Song resembling the sedge-warbler, but more powerful.— some harsh notes & some very high ones intermingled with a pleasant warbling.— Called by the Spaniards Callandra.— Also found at St Fe Bajada.

(e) Found at Bahia Blanca

(b) I have seen this bird at Bahia Blanca; pursuing & catching on wing large Coleoptera.—

(f) This bird is very numerous in the swamps & Fens between Sierra Ventana & B. Ayres: its appearance is by no means inelegant when walking about in shallow water, which is their proper position, wrongly accused of inelegance.— Cry curiously alike to a little dog barking while it hunts.— at night often paused to discriminate

180

Maldonado

1833 May

Ornithology (Egg 1378) as an English partridge; note a high shrill chirp; but not so much of a whistle as the other greater species.— Flesh most delicately white when cooked; more than a Pheasant.

(1224) V P 193.—

(1226) Certhia; does not use its tail much, but alights vertically on the reeds & other aquatic plants, which grow round the borders of lakes & which are its resort:— iris rusty red:—

(1227) in same habitat as last; is in small flocks: in its stomach various Coleoptera

(a) (1228) Sylvia Certhia. tailless: same habitat: conceals itself:—

(1229) Fringilla. feeding on the fruit of a cactus.

(1230) . . . . .

(c) (1231 Muscicapa, not very common.— iris yellow; small eyelid, plain colour

(1232) Emberiza, in very large flocks, feeding on the open plains on the ground: as they rise together, they utter a low shrill chirp.—

(1233) Turdus, not very common.— Note of alarm, like English one:

(1234) Fringilla: not common: in stomach seeds.—

(b) (1235) Rallus; easily rises on being disturbed.—

(1236) Tringa: on the Camp

(e) (1238) Picus, not uncommon; frequents stony places & seems to feed exclusively on the ground.— the bill of this one was muddy to the base:

in the stomach nothing but ants:— cry loud, resembling the English one, but each note more disconnected: also flight undulating in the same manner: they are generally by threes & fours together.— tail does not seem to be used: the tongue is in spirits (620)

(d) (1239) Lanius; not common; cry rather loud, plaintive, agreeable.—

[180v]

(a) Certhia: turns out not to be tailless: vide specimen in spirits (630). The tail would appear very liable to fall out; even in this specimen it is imperfect: there would seem a great degree of similarity in the construction of this birds tail & that the two Certhias (1226 & ??), as there is in the loossness of their attachment

(b) Base of bill, especially lower mandible, fine green colour.

(c) Generally frequents the rushy ground near lakes: base of bill, especially lower mandible, bright yellow.— eyelid or cere blackish yellow: walks.

(a) iris of eye yellow.— legs pale coloured.

(d) Iris reddish orange, bill blue especially lower mandible; there are specimens in which the narrow black & white bands on breast are scarcely visible, & what is more remarkable the under feathers of the tail are only most obscurely barred.— as this absence varied in extent, I imagine it to be the effect of age not sex.—

(e) When it alights on branch of a tree, not vertically but sits horizontally [criss cross] very like common birds:— I have since seen it alight vertically; in old specimens a little red in corner of mouth, & tail seems to be used.— Also scarlet tuft on to head.

181

Maldonado

1833 May (latter part)

Ornithology (1240) Muscicapa, in stomach chiefly Coleoptera

(1241) Fringilla, not common

(1242) Icterus in small flocks, in marshy places, not so abundant as the other species.—

(1243) Scolopax, differs from (1203) in being rather larger & different colours.— it is this bird which more especially makes the drumming noise, & is then very wild.— it is also more abundant.—

(c) (1244) Icterus, not common, marshy places, utters a loud shrill reiterated cry, with beak largely open;— tongue cleft at extremity.—

(1245) Fringilla, does not appear to go in flocks

(1246) Anthus, rare.—

(1247) Fringilla. in small flocks, amongst bushes, females with very little yellow.—

(1248) Certhia. legs blueish

(a) (1249) Certhia

(b) (1250) Certhia. legs blueish. These three birds together with (1226 & 1228) are very similar in their habits & general appearance; they all frequent & conceal themselves amongst the rushes & aquatic plants on borders of lake.— the tongue of all of them is bifid & with fibrous projecting points: legs all strong: iris of eyes all yellowish red.— tails have a somewhat similar structure; the note of those I have heard are somewhat similar, a rapid repetition of high chirp.— Yet how different their bills.— Are they not allied to the genus Furnarius?—

(d) (1251) Certhia: have never seen more than this one; flight different from length of tail & it alighted on the summit of a thistle in an open & dryer site.— legs blueish, very pale:

[181v]

(a) iris bright yellowish orange, legs with faint tint of blue.—

(b) These numerous species & numerous individuals seem to play the same part in Nature in this country which Sylvia does in England, feeding on small insects which are concealed amongst the bushes & plants near the margin of water.—

(c) the note of this bird is plaintive & agreeable & can be heard at long distance, is sometimes single, sometimes reiterated; flight heavy, is a much more solitary bird than most of its family.— I have since seen it in a flock, young birds with head & thighs merely mottled with scarlet:—

(d) I have since seen others: they do not frequent the thickets on borders of lakes & especially differ in feeding on the ground.— Furnarius?

(b) When winged crawl with great activity amongst the thickets: tail curiously loose.— I have seen individuals of most of these species flying about without tails.

(d) S. Covington saw the nest of this bird (I recollect seeing one which I then believed to belong to the above). it was made of a vast number of sticks in a thick bush, in length between one & two feet (nearer 2), with the passage vertical, or up & down, making a slight bend both at the exit & entrance of nest itself, lined with feathers.—

182

Maldonado

1833 May (latter part/ June)

Ornithology June (1252) Certhia: legs pale colour, iris rusty red; exceedingly like to (1226), differs in that depth of lower mandible & curvature of upper; I scarcely believe it to be a different species, more especially as I found one specimen which was intermediate in character between them both.—

(1255) Certhia. only differs from (1248) in shape of bill. Upper mandible in the latter is longer, & the symphysis of the lower one is of a different shape in the two specimens: Are they varieties or species?

(1256) Certhia: iris yellow reddish; legs pale with touch of blue

(1257) Parus (?) in very small flocks, habits like Europæan genus [of tit]: there is specimen (650) in spirits, because the beak of this one is imperfect.—

(1258) Sylvia, not very common

(1259) Sylvia, uncommon, amongst reeds

(a) (1260) (Furnarius. same genus as (1222)?) This is a common bird: & is always easily distinguished by the double reddish bands it shows in its flight.— Note like (1222) is a succession of high notes quickly repeated; they are here higher: flight similar; but does not walk:— not very tame: chiefly abounds on margin of lakes, amongst the refuse; but also common in the camp: in stomach nothing but insects & almost all Coleoptera; some of them were Fungi-feeders: often picks the dung of cattle. tongue of a bright yellow colour:— I know nothing of the nidification of this bird or of (1222); but it [is] clear they do not make nests like Fur: rufus; for they could not escape notice in such open countries as that of Falkland Isds. — Bahia Blanca & the country:—

[182v]

This species & (1222) make their nest by boring a hole said to be nearly 6 feet long in a bank of earth. A thick strong mud wall, round a house at Bahia Blanca, was perforated in a score of places by these birds, thinking it to be a bank or cliff: curious want of reasoning powers, since they were constantly flying over it.— The species (1222) I hear is found at Cordova, as I have seen it at St Fe.— I know not how much higher it is found.— M. Lisson is curious about the nidification of these birds.— They are called Casarita, as the Oven bird is called Casar. the Spaniards have observed their alliance, although their nidification, the original cause of name, is different.—

183

Maldonado

1833 June (early part)

Ornithology (1261) Lanius (?). Legs pale blueish; iris reddish: I have never seen but this one specimen: Coleoptera in stomach.

(1262) Fringilla. uncommon.—

(1263) (Charadrius) legs "crimson red"; toes leaden colour, under surface most remarkably soft & fleshy: in small flocks common in open plain; often with Turdus (1220); as they rise utter plaintive cry: iris dark brown:—

(a) (1264) Rhyncops: base of bill & legs "vermilion red". This curious bird was shot at a lake from which the water had lately been drained & abounded with small fish.— They were in flocks: I here saw what I have heard is seen at sea: these birds fly close to the water with their bills wide open, the lower mandible is half buried in the water. they thus skim the water & plough it as they proceed: the water was quite calm & it was a most curious spectacle to see a flock thus each leave the on the water its track: they often twist about & dexterously manage that the projecting lower mandible should trip plough up a small fish, which is secured by the upper.— This I saw as they flew close to me backwards & forwards as swallows: they occassionally left the water, then the flight was wild, rapid & irregular: they then also uttered a harsh loud cry: The length of the 1st remige must be very necessary to keep the wing dry: the tail is most used in steering their flight: It appears to me their whole structure, bill weak, short legs, long wings, appear to be more adapted for this method of catching its prey than for what

 

[183v]

(a) October These birds are common far inland near the R. Parana. They rest on the grass plains, in same manner as in day time near the sea on mud banks: are said to stay whole year & breed in the marshes. One evening near Rozario, as it was growing dark, we were anchored in a narrow Riacho or arm; here there were many smaller fry, & I saw one of these birds rapidly flying up & down ploughing the water as described at Maldonado. Class. Dic. is aware of this habit.— I think these & other marine birds perhaps enter far inland the more nearly from its extreme flatness.

184

Maldonado

1833 June (early part)

Ornithology V M. Lisson states, viz. that they catch open & eat Mactræ buried in the sand.— I have stated that at M: Video, when these birds are in large flocks on the sand banks, that they seem to go out to sea every night.— now if I were to conjecture, I should imagine that they fished at night, when their only method of catching prey would be by thus furrowing the water: it is probable that they eat other animals besides fishs; & many, for instance Crustaceæ, come to the surface chiefly at night.—

V It would be curious to note whether the lower mandible is well furnished with nerves as an organ of touch.— I imagine these birds fishing by day in a fresh water lake an extraordinary circumstance, & depended solely upon the myriads of minute fish which were jumping about.—

(1268) Larus. common in flocks near a lagoon

(1269) Ardea. not uncommon, also in Patagonia: hoarse cry: iris & cere, bright yellow — bill waxy colour.—

(1270) Owl. uncommon: in long grass, flew in mid-day:—

(1271) Sylvia. (male of 1259?)

(1272) Palombus. uncommon.—

(1273) Perdrix — Scolopax. male of (1224)

(1274) Turdus

(1275) Alecturus; sits on a thistle, from which by short flights catches prey: in stomach Lycosa & Coleoptera. tail seems useless in its flight.—

(1276) Alecturus. is this different species?

(a) (1277) Parus (?). most beautiful. amongst reeds. very rare.— Soles of feet, fine orange:

[184v]

(a) This bird is also found at Bahia Blanca

185

Maldonado

1833 June

Ornithology (1293) Owl.— Excessively numerous. mentioned by all travellers as a striking part of the Zoology of the Pampas & live in burrows especially where the soil is sandy. in B. Ayres seem exclusively to use holes of the Biscatche: stand on the hillocks near their hole & gaze on you: are generally out in the day, but more especially in the evening.— flight remarkably undulatory: very frequently utter shrill harsh cries on the wing & occassionally hoot: in stomach of one, remains of mice. if I had not known by my traps, the extraordinary number of the smaller Rodentia, I should have been puzzled to have conjectured on what food such great numbers of owls could live on.— I saw one kill a snake; said often to do, cause of appearance by day.

(a) (1294) Vulture. very abundant around the Ranchos & towns: these small carrion feeders, in large flocks, finish what the host of large black ones (called Cuervos & Carranchas) have begun. Called Chimango

(1295) Water hen. bill fine green: legs brown, toes with much membrane.—

(1296) Parus (?). common on the borders of lakes or ditches with water; frequently alights on the aquatic plants.— expands its tail like fan when seated on a twig.—

(1297) Rare & beautiful Fringilla.—

(1340) Palomba.— legs coloured dull "carmine red". frequent the Indian corn fields in large flocks.—

(1349) Thalassidromus shot in the bay being driven in by gale of wind; walks on the water, very tame:—

(1382) Perdrix. much rarer than the other species: they are generally found several together; flesh [when cooked] snow white; are unwilling to rise, uttering a whistle shriller than in species (1223) whilst on the ground.— Generally frequent marshy places on borders of lakes.— In the common

185 (bis)

partridge, the habit of uttering a whistle before rising on the wing, is different from the English one.—

(1383) Ostralogus — Guritti Island

(1384) Sterna do do

(1385) Palomba.— exceedingly abundant, living in small flocks in every sort of situation.—

(1390) Larus. soles of feet deep "reddish orange", legs & bill dull "arterial blood red". Breeds & frequents fens far inland. in B. Ayres: slaughtering houses.

(1396) Falco. not very uncommon

Copied (a) This Vulture & the Carranchas (saw a Carrancha at Cape Negro in the Sts of Magellan.—) frequent the dryest most sterile plains, & feed on the animals which dies; in such passages as between R. Negro & Colorado.— the (Gallinoras?) or black Cuervos always frequent damp places. I have seen them at the Colorado &c &c. they would seem to require animals in a more rapid state of putrefaction; & do not like picking dry bones.— it is natural for I believe they are are more abundant within the tropicks.— They are certainly pretty gregarious; on fine day which wheel at great height in graceful turns in bodies, uttering short cry.— clumsy near the ground, but run fast:— Carrancha utters very harsh cry like Spanish G & rr.— very crafty, steal eggs.— do not run fast, or soar, or gregarious.— build in cliffs if a person lies down in the plain, one of these birds will soon appear & patiently watch you with an evil eye.— (V P 239 & P. 260).— more particulars.—

(b) Found also at B. Blanca.

Chimango very abundant archipelago of Chiloe (known by diff name), will eat bread: often injures potatoe fields by scratching them up & devouring them!.— Is a great enemy to the Carrancha: When the latter is seated on a branch, the Chimango flies in a semicircle backwards & forwards upwards & downwards, trying to strike at each turn the other. Will continue thus flying for a long time

186

Maldonado

1833 May June

Ornithology The following observations are necessary to complete the Ornithology in the neighbourhead of the town.— There are several sorts of Hawks which I have been unable to procure: of the carrion feeders there are three which I have not.— ??? The brown sort, which is so plentiful at the Falklands is not very common here, but the large black ones (here called Cuervo) are excessively so.— I have never seen the Turkey Vulture:

(b) Amongst the Passerinæ my collection is very perfect: day after day & walking long distances impossible to procure any others.— Amongst birds which I have not, a sparrow (there was a specimen (683) & (1615)1 at M: Video.) this bird is excessively common.— often near houses; but not in flocks: they have not that air of domestication which the English ones have:— no more than the gorged Vultures, of a blackish color, resemble Rooks. There also is a black bird with rusty back & long claw (903) common on sand dunes: Also Sturnus ruber, not very abundant: I have never seen the Cardinal: seen The Cardinal is found here: There is a larger species of Kingfisher, same as in T del Fuego: a large partridge:

(c) Ostrich: a Vanellus (1602) with horn to wings is exceedingly abundant: is called "pteru-pteru" from their incessant & odious harsh cry: always seem to wish to attack you: give notice to all other birds of your approach.—

There is a small snow white & large lead-coloured Heron: Ibis: There is a large sort of Water Hen: There are some ducks, & black necked swan & others with black tips to wings:—

The birds generally are very numerous in the camp: especially Cassius & Lanius (or more properly Tyrannius).— It is impossible not to be struck with great beauty: the most general colour is yellow, & it is worth noting that from the prevalence of certain flowers (a) this is the general tint of the pasture.—

[186v]

(a) As Songsters they are miserably deficient: I have never heard one which could compare with one of our English performers, although of a low class.—

b) Capt Fitz Roys collection has another Cassicus Icterus & another Parus (?): evidently both rare birds: Decemb. Icterus is (1418): Also Certhia (1451) occurs at Maldonado1.

(c) The bird seems to hate mankind: shams death like the Peewit.— eggs pointed oval, brownish olive thickly spotted with dark brown.

187

Maldonado

1833 May June

Hyla 606 Copied Hyla.— above emerald green, beneath white, on sides a black & silvery stripe, also a shorter one at corner of mouth.— under side of hinder legs & side of abdomen marked with black spots. tympanum brown, iris gold-colour. Hind feet semipalmated.— They frequent in great numbers the open grass camp, also marshes.— These can never ascend trees, for they are entirely wanting.—

Rana 607 Copied Brown, with circular & asymetrical marks of black.— always in immediate neighbourhead of water.— Same as in Brazil?

Rana 631 Copied Eye very prominent; behind & by the side of them fine green markings; body brown with black markings; beneath silvery, with lateral band do:

Coluber 644 (a) Copied 645 Above "clove brown", shading beneath into pale; on the sides & back, there are regular black spaces with yellow specks; likewise whole length of body two narrow dorsal ribbons of "saffron yellow": on under side of tail a broard central band of "tile & ½ scarlet red".— there is also on the back a faint trace (chiefly shown by interrupted chain of specks) of a similarly coloured band.

Cavia cobaya 1266 (not spirits) Head 1318 (not spirits) This animal called the Aperea is exceedingly abundant.— it inhabits the sand dunes, hedge rows of Cactus, & especially marshy places covered with aquatic plants.

(Head 1318 not spirits) Copied (b) On gloomy days & in the evening they come out to feed, are not very timid & can easily be shot. In dry places they have burrows, but in swamps the mud is so soft that it is impossible. They are very injurious to young trees in the garden.— The hair is remarkably loose on their bodies.— An old male weighed 1 lb. 3 oz. (Imperial weight)

[187v]

(a) Upon taking this animal out of spirits I observed in its worms mouth several small worms; as there was a tight ligature (to kill it) round the neck, they could not have proceeded from the stomach. In the mouth of another Coluber (623) I noticed one alive (the animal being strangled as the former one), & if I remember right it crawled like a leach by the aid of its extremities. Common in the swampy plains between Sierra Ventana & B. Ayres.

(d) Copied Killed in August at R. Negro another species (1471); besides the difference in colour & fineness of hair: it is smaller; & in habits is tamer, more of a day feeder: frequent dry hedges, produces two young at a time (good authority). I have specimen of its head (1587): Generally called Conejos.— Old male, Port Desire, weighed 3530 grs.—

Jan: 1834 (a) Common in the swampy plains between Sierra Ventana & B. Ayres.

188

Maldonado

1833 May June

Rodentia Talpiformes Toco Toco 1267 (not spirits) Head (a) 1311 (not spirits) 659 Spirits This curious animal is abundant, but difficult to be procured & still more difficult to be seen at liberty:— it lives almost entirely under ground; prefers sandy soil & gentle inclination, as for instance where the sand dunes join the camp, but they are often found in other situations.— it is not often that there is an open burrow; but the earth is thrown up as by a mole & generally at night.— the burrows are said not to be deep but of great length.— they seem gregarious.— the man who procured my specimen found six together; in many places the ground is so much undermined that the horses hoofs sink into it.— They are well known & take their name from their peculiar noise: the first time it is heard, one feels much astonished, as it is not easy to judge where it comes from & it would be impossible to guess what made it:— It consists in a short nasal noise repeated for about four times in succession: the first time the noise not being so loud & more separated from the others: the musical time is constant.— This noise is heard at all times of the day.— It is said that they come out at night to feed; that they come out is certain for I have seen their tracks, but I must think that their principal food is roots; it is the only way of accounting for their extensive burrows.— In the stomach of one there was a yellowish greenish mass, in which I could only distinguish fibres.—

[188v]

Covington — Copy all this out at end of regular account

(a) At R. Negro (in August) an animal frequents the same sites & makes the same burrows: but the noise is decidedly different: it is more distinct, louder, sonorous, peculiar, much resembles the sound of a small tree being cut down in the distance.— the noise is repeated twice & not 3 or 4 times as at Maldonado.— At Bahia Blanca the animal makes a noise repeated at single intervals, at equal times or in an accelerating order.— I was assured these animals were found of different colours.— Having caught one of the Gerbillos (1284) I was assured that this was the Toco Toco which made the noise.— Very many people said the same.— What is the truth? Monsieur Dessalines d'Orbigny6 who collected many animals at R. Negro must have specimens of them both &c &c.— Immense tracks of country between R. Negro & Sierra Guitro-Leignè are curiously injured by these animals; the horses fetlock sinking in every 2 or 3 steps.—

Feb 3rd.— 1834 At Cape Negro, the last of Patagonia, where features of Tierra del F are present, the ground is a warren of holes: several heads were lying about, of which (1795) may perhaps be sufficient to recognise identity of species.

189

Maldonado

1833 May June

Toco Toco When kept in a room.— They move slowly & clumsily, chiefly from the outward action of their hind legs: cannot jump: their teeth (of a bright wax yellow) cannot well cut wood: when frightened or angry make their peculiar noise; are stupid in making attempts to escape: When eating biscuit, rest on hind legs & hold it in fore paws; appeared to wish to drag the food away: Many of them are very tame, & will not attempt to bite or run away, others are a little more wild.— The man who brought them that very many are always blind: specimen (659 for dissection) would appear to be so; did not take any notice of my finger when placed within 1/2 an inch of its head.— it made its way about the room nearly as well as the others.— An old male weighed

Lycoperdium or Phallus 647 Copied Nearly all my specimens are in their young state.— They then look like the bulb of from which the Phallus springs, only with the difference that the outer coat is penetrated with apertures.— This outer coat seems to expand untill it becomes a bag of trellis work.— There is a fragment showing the structure.— They are of a salmon colour.— but through the aperture the internal parts are brownish green.— They grow on the sand dunes & near to a Phallus, but appear to be uncommon.— Did not possess any strong odour.—

190

Maldonado

1833 May June

Lacerta-Ameiva 648, 649 Sides of body light rich brown, with black marks, a longitudinal white line on each side; Within these & the inner brown for 2/3 of anterior part of body there is a fine emerald green colour.

Hyla 652 Copied Above coppery brown, mottled with black, which latter colour is most distinct on hinder thighs & sides of body extending over the tympanum a blackish brown band; iris coppery on edge of upper mandible white line.— Caught under stone

Rana 653 Copied Body above light greenish yellow, with lateral brownish black band & distinct circular patch on sides before the thighs.— There are obscure longitudinal marks on under upper surface of thighs & the under is tinged with reddish orange.— Caught under a stone

Bufo 654 Copied Above yellowish green, with central line on back more bright: [juniples] brown; beneath yellowish.— Under stone. Same as at M Video?.—

Coluber 663 Copied Above dark "Pistachio green", with central narrow dorsal line of brown: beneath "Aurora & 1/2 Vermilion red" but mostly on posterior half of body, altogether very beautiful. open camp.—

Lycoperdium 664 Copied This curious fungus consists of a dark brown bag containing powder, like a common Lycoperdium: but instead of growing on the ground, it is seated on a circular flat disk (of a lighter colour) the superior & inferior edges of which are cracked & curled.— They would seem like sphere burst through, especially the lower one: which latter is slightly attached to the soil.— Grow in damp & rather shady places:

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Bufo 613 Copied This is the same extraordinarily coloured animal which I found at Bahia Blanca (P 99).— They were not very uncommon amongst the sand-dunes: the quantity of marks of "buff orange" varied, in some individuals being these being more, in some less than at B. Blanca.— Eye jet black.— When placed in water could scarcely swim at all.— & I think would shortly have been drowned.— They crawl about during the day & frequent the driest places.—

Insecta 610 or 3281 June 1833 The following facts I have noticed at M. Video & frequently in this place:— After a heavy thunder storm in a little pool in a court-yard which had only existed at most seven hours.— I observed the surface strewed over the with black specks; these were collected in groups, & precisely resembled pinches of gunpowder dropped in different parts on the surface of the puddle. These specks are Insects of a dark leaden colour; the younger ones being red.— Viewed through a microscope, they were continually crawling over each other & the surface of the water; on the hand they possessed a slight jumping motion.— The numbers on each pool were immense:— & every puddle possessed some of the pinches.— What are they? & how produced in such countless myriads? We have seen their birth is effected in a short time, & their life, from the drying of the puddles, can not be of a much longer duration.—

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Planaria 627 I found under stones, on rocky hills, great numbers of terrestrial Planariæ.— in same manner as mentioned (P 71) at M: Video.— There are two species they seem to be the same as there described.— I observed two of them in perfect close contact on the under surface.— Is it a generative process?— On opening the body at the situation of orifice, there was a hard white cup-shaped organ with a sinuated margin.— The animal not being quite dead.— This expanded & contracted itself.— I have not the slightest doubt, if this organ was protruded & perfectly expanded it would present the appearance described in Planariæ (P 15 & 21).— When the contraction was most it might be described as being star shaped, from the sinuated margins being drawn in to central point.— On the surface I noticed the corpuscular motion.—

[in margin:] (Ocelli numerous black round anterior extremity & foot)

Cavia Capybara (a) Copied Cavia capybara These animals are abundant on the borders of the lakes in the vicinity of Maldonado, & occassionally frequent the islands even at sea: During the last voyage two were shot on Goriti.— At Maldonado Three or four generally live together; in the day time they are either lying amongst the aquatic plants or feeding openly on the turf plain.— When viewed at a distance, from their manner of walking & colour they resemble a pig; but when seated on their haunches & watching with one eye, they reassume the appearance of their congeners the Agoutis.— Their great depth of jaw gives to their profile & front view a quite ludicrous appearance.— They are very tame, by cautiously walking I approached within

[192v]

(a) These animals I believe do not occur South of the R. Plata.— I could not hear of any at the R. Negro.— Number in islands of Parana & Uruguay. chief food of the Jaguars.— where there are not many Capinchos there is most not much fear of these animals. In the water the two young of the Capincho often sit on its back.— N.B. There is a Laguna Carpincho East of B. Ayres, at the higher part of the Salado.—

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Cavia capybara three yards of four large ones: As I came nearer they frequently made their peculiar noise; it is a very abrupt one: there is not much actual sound, but rather the sudden expulsion of air.— The only noise I know at all like it is the first hoarse bark of a large dog. Having watched them (& they me) for several minutes, almost within arms reach.— They rushed into the water with the greatest impetuosity at full gallop; & emitting at the same time their bark.— When three or four thus dash in together the spray flies about in every direction.— After diving a short distance, they come to the surface, but only show just the upper part of the head.— In the stomach & duodenum of one there was a great mass of a yellowish liquid matter, in which nothing could be distinguished.—

(x) Perdrix— Scolopax (?!) 1224 & 1273 not spirits 707 spirits (a) Copied At P 99, I have mentioned this bird.— They were more abundant here.— They generally frequent the same spot; & that always a dry one.— I have repeatedly noticed them in a particular part of a dry road.— They are either in pairs or in small flock; when in the latter they all rise together, when in former one waits (even when one is shot) for the former: As they rise they utter a cry like a Snipe & in same manner fly high & irregularly & generally a long distance.— they however occassionally soar for short distance like a partridge.— Their general habits so much resemble a snipe

[193v]

(a) This is perhaps the most common bird in the dry plains between the R: Negro & Sierra de la Ventana.— it runs in flocks from 3 or 4 to 30 or 40 in number.— it is said to builds on the borders of lakes & has 5 or 6 eggs in its nest, white spotted with red.— In its nidification & flocking resembles Snipes; is called by the Spaniards.— Avescasina.—

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Perdrix-Scolopax that our sportsmen call them "short-billed snipes".— their real connection is marked by the length of the Scapulars.— When on the ground, they squat close to escape observation & are not easily seen; in this position, & when walking from the width which their legs are apart, they resemble a Partridge.—

In the stomach of several which I opened there was nothing but pieces of rushy grass, the summits of which were pointed, also small bits of some leaf & grains of quartz: the intestine & dung were bright green.— In another (killed at different time) there were seeds & a dead ant.— The specimens have either black markings round the neck or not.— They are specimens in Spirits of both.— Male & female?

Bufo 665 Copied Elegantly marked with black & pale green; colours most vivid on the lumbar glands; hinder thighs with little tinge of orange on softer parts.—

Coluber 673 Copied. Above "sage green", shading into beneath "siskin green": most beautiful:

Coluber 674 Copied Scales generally dirty "oil green", the interstices on the sides & edge of ventral plates, dark brown. these brown interstical spaces likewise form numerous irregular transverse bars on the back; the sides scales themselves in these parts being brown; beneath with dirty "siskin green".—

Coluber 675 Copied Ventral plates fine "Vermilion red, becoming paler towards the gorge, with black specks on each side; sides "greenish grey", back reddish grey, with central "blackish grey" line: head & upper side of neck, "umber brown".—

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Specimens collected by the Officers in Schooner, Coast of Patagonia.

[in margin:] 'Copied all on this page'

Agama 681 Copied General colour blueish grey with tinge of rust colour on back. broard transverse bands with white undulation behind them.—

Agama 682 General colour not so blue, with pointed, bright yellow undulations in hinder part of brown band

Agama 683 General colour rather darker; back dark brown with central light reddish longitudinal band with small transverse ones branching off.—

Agama 684 Pale reddish grey, brown transverse bands, yellowish white posterior undulations

Agama 685

General colour especially tail much redder: All these Lizards were caught at Port Desire in beginning of January by the officers in the small Schooners.—

Lizard 686 On back transverse rows: each with 3 semilunar rich brown marks, edged with cream colour. Lateral line of same colour; about head traces of bright green.— Port Desire

Lizard 687 Mud colour with lighter lateral line.—

Bufo 689

Head remarkably flat, dark grey, with much blacker & symetrical markings. Rio Chupat

Bufo 690 Slate colour, with dark markings.— Rio Chupat.— B. Engaño Bay.—

All the above specimens were collected by the officers in the Schooners under the command of Mr Wickham7, during the summer of the year: the colours of each were stated not to have altered, only to be less vivid.—

[195v]

(z) A pocket handkerchief, in which I carried on horseback the skin; has constantly been in use since & therefore repeatedly washed; not withstanding this, now 13 months have intervened I know this handkerchief from the others by its smell.—

Cervus Campestris. It will be seen in my journal3 when I shot the deer at Maldonado: a pocket handkerchief, in which I carried the skin, has been in constant use & repeatedly washed, yet in December 1834 the odour was very perceptible.— do in Jan:— 1835

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Mus 1280 not Sps. Was killed at the Island of Goriti where they are said to be common.— They are also said to be occur in numbers at East Point.— They inhabit burrows in the sand dunes.— It is a likely place for ships to leave this animal, if they are infected with such monsters.— But I think from habits it is an aboriginal.— The occurrence at Island Goriti is no difficulty as a reef now connects the it with mainland, probably was once continuous.— The ears were whitish & oddly contrasted with rest of body.— An old male weighed 15 & 3/4 oz:

Cervus 1292 (Nt Spirits) (815) (b) not spirits Horns 1440:1441 (z) (old in front) Copied Are very abundant in the mamillated plain round Pan de Azucar.— Manners resembling those at B. Blanca.— This specimen was shot out of a herd of seven.— The Gauchos say he is nine years old:— teeth all decayed.— Smell intolerably strong & offensive, almost creating Nausea.— this seems to occur at seasons when the Horns are perfect: Out of same herd (without moving I shot three. from having crawled a long distance the deer did not know what I was & as usual advanced to reconnoitre me) I shot another & younger buck.— Horns (1337 & 1337)

Procellaria (c) Cop

I took a specimen at Maldonado which I suppose is "gigantea", appear however to differ in colour: colour "greyish black", or shade darker above & one lighter beneath.— The following measures may help to point out differences with any future specimen: Extreme points of Tarsus of legs 3.4 inch, measured on outside: Fibula from centre of articulations 10.8inch: Lower mandible from feathers to extremity 3.15: nose on central part from a membrane at base to concavo—truncate extremity, 1.65in: depth of bill, including nose, 1.2in: 16 rectrices:.—

[196v]

(b) The officers of the Beagle have never seen this animal to the South of the R. Negro.— The smell is most offensive.— I have often perceived the whole air impregnated, when the distance of Buck could not have been less than ½ a mile to Windward.— Are said by Gauchos to change their horns annually. Seem to like mountains. excessively numerous near the Sierra Ventana.— But they are spread more or less over the whole country.—

(c) Specimen (2080) procured at Port Famine.— Mr Low says it the young one of the common grey sort.— Their flight however appears rather more elegant, & the distinction of color strongly marked. I have long noticed this bird & thought it was a different species. They build at Malaspina Sea Lion Isd, S. Cruz & other places on coast of Patagonia.— The officers have seen them at P. St. Antonia pursue & kill some sort of Coot.— The latter tried to escape by flying & diving: but was continually struck & beaten by its enemy. at last when rising from beneath the water the Nelly cut his its head off with its bill. At Port St Julian there was the bill of a very large Cuttle fish in the stomach: flight very like albatross; often settles & rests on the water: frequent inland bays & as well as open sea.— I think not generally very far from the coast.— Specimen (2080), bill wax white: legs black, upper surface greyish.—

June 15th I saw two this very day, 80 miles from West Coast of Patagonia.—

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circumference of biggest smooth one 4:(.2 inches)

Siliceous tubes from Lightning 1375 1376 In the great sand dunes which separate Laguna del Potrero from the sea.— I found numerous fragments of those siliceous tubes, which are supposed to be formed by lightning entering the sand.— The dunes are not protected by vegetation & are in consequence perpetually moving their position.— From this cause I first observed the tubes projecting out, & fragments which clearly were parts of the same broken off, & strewed immediately around.—

found four of these entering the sand perpendicularly & going deeper than I could trace.— By clearing away the loose dry sand I traced one for two feet, & close to this there were fragments, which placed together, formed a tube 3ft.3 inches long; So that here the tube must have been 5ft.3 inch in length, & as the diameter was the same throughout, probably extended to a far greater depth.— At the level of about 12 feet below these were pools of water, left by rain: it is probable that these tubes penetrate to where the sand is of so damp a nature, as easily to conduct the electric fluid. Besides the four tubes which I found vertical & traced beneath the surface, there were several other groups of fragments, the original site of which was doubtless near.— The situation was upon a level piece of bare sand & amongst lofty sand-dunes; at about 1/2 of a miles distance there was a chain of hills of 400 or 500 feet in height. The internal surface of these tubes is vitrified; the external is very rugged with longitudinal furrows: the grains of sand which adhere to it are the same as the surrounding mass.— This sand is peculiar in possessing no

[197v]

[sketch] The two branches brought together.

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Lightning tubes scales of mica.— The diameter of different sets varied; in shape more generally compressed, sometimes circular.— They entered the sand vertically, in some however there were slight bends.— In one case, which was much more irregular than the generality, the deviation at the bend from a right line amounted to 33°.— In this same one, there were two small branches which V: Fig: gradually tapered to a point; they were about a foot apart, & one pointed downward, the other upwards.— In this latter, the branch with the stem included an angle of 26°, this is remarkable as one would not expect the Electric fluid to make effort to return at so acute an angle.— I do not see any cause which could have produced these curious tubes excepting lightning; The sand hillocks were bare & evidently of short duration: Certainly the neighbourhead of the R. Plata is a likely place to meet with (a) such phenomena; for the number of electrical storms is astonishing.— Twice on entering the river St Elmos light has shone on the Beagles mast head.— It is a curious circumstance the occurrence of so many groups of tubes, within a space of 60 yards square by 20.— Were these the result of one shock, & the electric fluid dividing itself shortly before entering the ground? or of distinct & successive ones? I should think the former the more probable case.—

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a) In 1793 A.D. Lightning struck B. Ayres in one storm in 37 places: & killed 19 people.— Encyclo: Brittanica.—

Cause of furrows.— smooth internally.— no cryst [illeg] .— sand siliceous black glass.— air bubbles.— fibrous appearance.—

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General Observations June 25th.— The Temperature of two Springs situated of South side of low rocky hills; & tolerably well protected from the effects of radiation; but not emitting much water: one gave 56 1/2°. the other 57 1/4°. I should imagine the mean 56 7/8° somewhere near the truth, & therefore as mean of year.

The nearly entire absence of trees in such a fine climate & in such deep rich a soil is a very surprising & inexplicable fact.— Some have explained it from the strong winds, but in the neighbourhead of Maldonado this is quite insufficient. the number of rocky & abrupt hills rising out of the plain render ample protection for the growth of the most tender.— This same paucity extends is common both to the modern beds of the Buenos Ayres country & to the granitic rocks of Banda oriental.— Can it originate in the covering of Alluvial soil being of very recent origin.— It is clear that the latter has been formed over a large extent at same time & beneath water: from not containing organic remains, probably suddenly.—

(a) I was told that near the Arroyo Tapes there was a wood of Palms. From the number of leaves (used in thatching) it is very probable.—

In Lat 35°! One I saw which appeared about 20 feet high & thick in proportion.— They grow at Pan de Azucar: on the West bank of the Uruguay they are not found untill you arrive at the Arroyo del Palmas

[199v]

a) These Palms & some semi-aquatic trees, which follow the courses of the streams, are nearly the only exceptions to the general & entire absence: it is said that forest timber does not occur for a long distance N of Rio Plata.— In the mountainous country on the Northern half of the Laguna de los Petos, there is an abundance.—

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General Observations in Latitude 32°. Here likewise a sandy Granitic soil commences.— This would appear to be adapted to them.—

(c) After being accustomed to the great numbers of Coprophagous insects in England.— It was at first with surprise that I here found the ample repast afforded by the immense herds of horses & cattle almost untouched.— Aphodius (?) (No 1181) is the only good exception: this insect amongst the sand dunes burrows holes beneath Horse dung:—

(b) Aphodius (1225) I have only observed once under very old dung.— Any other Aphodii which I have taken have been wandering.— It is curious to enquire what animal (No 1181) belonged to before the introduction of horses.— All the larger animals here, such as Guanaco, deer, Capincho, have dung in the form of pellets, which must be of a very different nature with respect to insects. M. Video was founded 1725, it is said the country abounded with Vicunnas. Cattle & horses have perhaps only abounded for about 80 years. This absence of Coprophagous beetles appears to me to be a very beautiful fact; as showing a connection in the creating between animals as widely apart as Mammalia & Cole Insects. Coleoptera, which when one of them is removed out of its original Zone, can scarcely be produced by a length of time & the most favourable circumstances.—

The same subject of investigation will recur in Australia: If proofs were wanting to show the Horse & Ox to be aboriginals of great Britain I think the very presence of so many species of insects feeding on their dung, would be a very strong one.—

[200v]

(a) Turf or Peat is not generally supposed to be formed within the Tropics; as the Latitude of this place is under 35° I thought it worth while to enquire respecting its occurrence.— 1386 The two sorts In many marshy places the earth is very black, & contains much vegetable matter, in one place reposing on this there was another of much less specific gravity & so penetrated by roots & fibres as almost to be capable of burning.— (leaving however great quantities of ashes). This I was assured by a person well capable of judging was the nearest approach he had ever seen to the Turf of Ireland. As there are an abundance of situations favourable for the production [of] this substance, its existence only in the above imperfect state shows that this Latitude is too low for it.—

(b) At Bahia Blanca (September) there were very great numbers of Copris (1491).— Almost every heap of horse & cow dung was undermined by a deep circular hole, as is seen in England.— It is clear this beetle is partly omni-stercovorous.— & that before the introduction of latter animals [ abundant young same to B. Blanca] to S. America could not have been in any numbers.— At the sierra Guitro-Linguè there were countless numbers of Aphodii (1492) flying about in the evening.— there was much horse dung, but I never saw one alight upon it.— The troop of horses had not been there more than 5 months & before that the plain was desert.— What dung or other substance could these Animals Insects feed on?

(c) 1833. March 1834. April

At the E. Falkland Islands there are no beetles under the dung.— Here perhaps the Climate so damp would be highly unfavourable to them (& all insect) life.—