201

Maldonado

1833 July 23d

Salmacis 1392 not spirits Growing in abundance in pools of water. Guritti Island. Colour "sap green".— Diameter of filament .004 or rather more.— length of each from a little greater than this, to double: Very transparent containing but little internal matter.—

(a)The spires (with hyaline globules) close, each globule however not approximate to he others, the whole having net appearance.— There were 6 or 7 spiral lines: I could only count these by observing the apparent angle one made with a transverse line & thus guess its point of reappearance on upper surface, & then noting how many lines were included in this space.— In each cell about 9 lines encircled it.—

[in margin] there were about 12 hyaline dots in one complete spire

The gemmules were semi-opake, dark green & slightly oval.— The tube which connects the two the filaments was longer than that figured in Dic: class: & not cylindrical, the central parts having a larger diameter; & evidently formed by two slightly well funnel-shaped tubes having joined.— The mark or lip where these would arise was visible in the cells with spiral lines of globules:— The necessity of the connection of two filaments to produce gemmules was clearly proved by the occurrence of occassional cells with spires surrounded by those with gemmules, & which had not, from the varying length, an opposite one to unite to.— One end of a filament would often contain gemmules whilst the other had not been joined & therefore remained in its original state.—

Arthrodièes 1393 not spirits In same pool there was a genus belonging to this family: joints or cells cylindrical, about 1/2 & inch long & 1/18 in diameter; extremities rounded: it forms a trellis work, either pentagons, hexagons or square; three limbs articulating together being most common.—

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(a) Having kept the plant for four days in a dark & warm place.— I noticed the following fact.— The gemmules are circular & much flattened. They lie in a plane in which the connecting tube is.— The stem or filament is cylindrical. In the interval of these days the gemmules had altered their position, They were now inclined in different planes, so that of course I immediately saw they were not spherical.— I found filaments (which appeared young ones) with the middle of each cell marked with cross lines, of a green colour & not extending whole length of cell. These cross lines were really each a part of a spire & from transparency of stem & their shortness appeared like cross bars.— ∴not 9 as before stated They evidently were extend till those of different cells nearly join. The number of these lines or vessels in each cell is 7; the hyaline points have not appeared, but even then the lip of where junction would take place was evident.— The appearance is of a set of spiral lines, alternately erased for an equal length. In some specimens these lines were quite rudimentary & short & others those of two adjoining cells were almost united. Then the filament or stem must exist previously to their perfect formation.—

202

Maldonado

1833 July

Arthrodièes Limbs are transparent, turgid & elastic with water, appear to have no communication one with another: outer case colourless, no organization; is lined with thin layer of soft tender gelatino-granular matter, which is grouped into small numerous irregular dots.— Colour pale yellowish green.— Floats on surface with the above Salmacis, & in large net or trellis work pieces, several inches square.— I know not to what family this belongs

Daphnia 727 Daphnia & an Ostracodes were in great plenty amongst the above described plants.— Daphnia of usual shape; with spine at posterior extremity: length .8, breadth .5: colour light brown transparent: case very thin marked with regular cross lines. like [crane] etching or fishing net:— eyes large black with irregular motions: Antennæ bifid, each division with 3 joints; & terminated with 3 setæ, the outer branch has likewise two lateral ones the inner only one.— Mouth with mandible formed of a narrow plate more bent at extremity & rounded, overlapping each other. & tips coloured brown; under surface with 3 raised rough lines or ridges:— In my imperfect examination did not see Maxillæ:— 1st pair of legs seated at base of last organs. peduncle very short, with few irregular long setæ.— 2nd pair is divided into two parts (perhaps 2 distinct legs) which do not act in for same plain, one semicircular with close even pecten of setæ; the other with few long scattered setæ & a jointed peduncle bearing setæ: 3rd, layer semicircular even pecten of setæ with few irregular ones at one corner: then three pair of [legs] [illeg] act towards the tail: the 4th pair is very

203

Maldonado

1833 July

Daphnia similar to & approximate to the last, but seems to act or fan towards the head or in opposite direction: Heart in strong action: Intestine bright green; with Cæcum very plain in head.— tail terminated by a narrow sort of foot: which is terminated by two claws.— heel with two long bristles: sole on each side with short curved spines: in this spaces or sole is anus.— sole of foot is turned towards back of shell:— Eggs lie in dorsal space & imperfectly formed young ones: Antennæ large in proportion:— The legs do not seem used in progression:— At very point of head there are two most minute bundles of setæ.—

Fish (spirits) 747 Caught in October in the R. Parana — as high as Rozario.— The four first fish are the common fry of the river.— Back blueish silvery, with silver band on side: blueish black spot behind the Branchiæ.— Fins pale orange, tail with central part band black.—

748 Back iridescent greenish brown, silver band on side.— Fins dirty orange, tail with central black band, above & below bright red & orange

749 Silvery; eyes fine black, peculiar form of belly; grows to twice size of specimen.

750 Fish called Salmon grows to one or two feet long.— Above blueish gradually shading down on sides; fins tipped with fine red, especially the tail, which latter organ has central black band

746 Fish. not very abundant. Upper part of body with its fins with tint of yellow, but stronger on the head, with dorsal clouds of black.— tip of tail black. Beneath silvery white.— pupil black. iris white; usual size sometimes larger.—

204

Maldonado

1833 December

Armadilloes I have had opportunities of seeing something of four species of this genus.— & hearing respecting their habitats.— The Taturia Pichiz (375 Spirits); the T. Apar. (403 spirits) called Mataco.— The T. villosa, called Paluda.— are all found in some numbers on the sandy plains of Bahia Blanca, Lat. 39°.— The three species show no difference in choice of situations.— The first Pichiz, or sometimes called Kerikincha; is excessively numerous in all the dry country of B. Blanca, Sierra Ventana, R. Negro &c. It appears never to be found on this East side of America, to the Northward of the Sierra Tapalguen in Lat: 37°.30' They are said to occur plentifully in the Laguna desagualero at the foot of the Andes.— Some of the officers of the Beagle have seen it at Port St Elena Desire, Lat 48° 30' I have frequently opened the stomach of this animal; generally it contains Coleoptera & various Larvæ.— I have found roots & an Amphisbœna.— When surprised, it either buries itself very quickly, or lies close to the ground to escape observation.— in loose dry earth it is necessary to get off your horse quickly in order to secure your prize, which when fat & roasted is most excellent eating.— it often frequents the sand dunes & can drink no fresh water for years together.— They bring forth 2 or 3 young ones at a time.— They are constantly wandering about by day.— The Mataco & Paluda appear to have a wider range.— they are found at St Iago in Lat 28°.— The Paluda is a nocturnal animal & is taken by going out at night with dogs.— The fourth species, T. hybridus (1413) does not occur to the South of S. Tapalguen, Lat 37°30′; to the North of this it is common & supplies Buenos Ayres; near to which (a) latter place it is not found.— It seems rather to prefer rocky ground,

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(a) rocky ground occurring commonly in Banda oriental.— It & the Paluda occur both there & in Entre Rios. as high as St Fe 32°, how much higher I know not.—

(b) Not having specimen of the Paluda, I give an imperfect description.— Front legs with 5 toes; 2 middle claws longest very broard flat; 2 outer ones shorter, 1 inner one very narrow long.— the 2nd toe has a remarkable ball on the under side at its base.— belly with rows of stiff hair; back with 8 moveable bands long hairs scattered on back.— Tail half length of body 9 teeth in upper jaw; 10 in lower on each side.— Nearly 3 times as big as a Pichiz &

[D] at S. Cruz (1697) is Specimen Q. whether it is the same species with Pichiz?.—

The whole four species are found near Mendoza.—