VI
Preface.
this volume has already seen the light in the form of papers contributed to the Field, with other journals that treat of Natural History; and to the monthly magazines :--Longmans', The Nineteenth Century, The Gentleman's Magazine, and others : I am indebted to the Editors and Proprietors of these periodicals for kindly allowing me to make use of this material.
Of all animals, birds have perhaps afforded me most pleasure; but most of the fresh knowledge I have collected in this department is contained in a larger work (Argentine Ornithology), of which Dr. P. L. Sclater is part author. As I have not gone over any of the subjects dealt with in that work, bird-life has not received more than a fair share of attention in the present volume.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. THE DESERT PAMPAS ....... 1
CHAPTER II. CUB PUMA, OR LION OF AMERICA 31
CHAPTER III. WAVE OF LIFE ........ 59
CHAPTER IV. SOME CURIOUS ANIMAL WEAPONS ..... 69