A
tooth of a mastadon has been brought from Bahama; Edin. New
Phil. Journ., 1826, p. 395.
[7] See the admirable Appendix by Dr. Buckland to Beechey's
Voyage; also the writings of Chamisso in Kotzebue's Voyage.
[8] In Captain Owen's Surveying Voyage (vol. ii. p. 274)
there is a curious account of the effects of a drought on the
elephants, at Benguela (west coast of Africa). "A number of
these animals had some time since entered the town, in a body,
to possess themselves of the wells, not being able to procure
any water in the country. The inhabitants mustered, when a
desperate conflict ensued, which terminated in the ultimate
discomfiture of the invaders, but not until they had killed
one man, and wounded several others." The town is said to
have a population of nearly three thousand! Dr. Malcolmson
informs me that, during a great drought in India, the wild
animals entered the tents of some troops at Ellore, and that
a hare drank out of a vessel held by the adjutant of the
regiment.
[9] Travels, vol. i. p. 374.
[10] These droughts to a certain degree seem to be almost
periodical; I was told the dates of several others, and the
intervals were about fifteen years.
CHAPTER VIII
BANDA ORIENTAL AND PATAGONIA
Excursion to Colonia del Sacramiento - Value of an Estancia -
Cattle, how counted - Singular Breed of Oxen - Perforated
Pebbles - Shepherd Dogs - Horses broken-in, Gauchos
riding - Character of Inhabitants - Rio Plata - Flocks of
Butterflies - Aeronaut Spiders - Phosphorescence of the
Sea - Port Desire - Guanaco - Port St. Julian - Geology
of Patagonia - Fossil gigantic Animal - Types of Organization
constant - Change in the Zoology of America - Causes of
Extinction.
