isobvious。AtothertimesIheardofthemarvellouspropertyofcertainrivers，whichhadthepowerofchangingsmallbonesintolarge；or，assomemaintained，thebonesthemselvesgrew。AsfarasIamaware，notoneoftheseanimalsperished，aswasformerlysupposed，inthemarshesormuddyriver-bedsofthepresentland，buttheirboneshavebeenexposedbythestreamsintersectingthesubaqueousdepositinwhichtheywereoriginallyembedded。WemayconcludethatthewholeareaofthePampasisonewidesepulchreoftheseextinctgiganticquadrupeds。
　　Bythemiddleoftheday，onthe28th，wearrivedatMonteVideo，havingbeentwodaysandahalfontheroad。Thecountryforthewholewaywasofaveryuniformcharacter，somepartsbeingrathermorerockyandhillythannearthePlata。NotfarfromMonteVideowepassedthroughthevillageofLasPietras，sonamedfromsomelargeroundedmassesofsyenite。Itsappearancewasratherpretty。Inthiscountryafewfig-treesroundagroupofhouses，andasiteelevatedahundredfeetabovethegenerallevel，oughtalwaystobecalledpicturesque。
　　DuringthelastsixmonthsIhavehadanopportunityofseeingalittleofthecharacteroftheinhabitantsoftheseprovinces。TheGauchos，orcountryrmen，areverysuperiortothosewhoresideinthetowns。TheGauchoisinvariablymostobliging，polite，andhospitable：Ididnotmeetwithevenoneinstanceofrudenessorinhospitality。Heismodest，bothrespectinghimselfandcountry，butatthesametimeaspirited，boldfellow。Ontheotherhand，manyrobberiesarecommitted，andthereismuchbloodshed：
　　thehabitofconstantlywearingtheknifeisthechiefcauseofthelatter。
　　Itislamentabletohearhowmanylivesarelostintriflingquarrels。
　　Infighting，eachpartytriestomarkthefaceofhisadversarybyslashinghisnoseoreyes；asisoftenattestedbydeepandhorrid-lookingscars。
　　Robberiesareanaturalconsequenceofuniversalgambling，muchdrinking，andextremeindolence。AtMercedesIaskedtwomenwhytheydidnotwork。
　　Onegravelysaidthedaysweretoolong；theotherthathewastoopoor。
　　Thenumberofhorsesandtheprofusionoffoodarethedestructionofallindustry。Moreover，therearesomanyfeast-days；andagain，nothingcansucceedwithoutitbebegunwhenthemoonisontheincrease；sothathalfthemonthislostfromthesetwocauses。
　　Policeandjusticearequiteinefficient。Ifamanwhoispoorcommitsmurderandistaken，hewillbeimprisoned，andperhapsevenshot；butifheisrichandhasfriends，hemayrelyonitnoverysevereconsequencewillensue。Itiscuriousthatthemostrespectableinhabitantsofthecountryinvariablyassistamurderertoescape：theyseemtothinkthattheindividualsinsagainstthegovernment，andnotagainstthepeople。
　　Atravellerhasnoprotectionbesideshisfire-arms；andtheconstanthabitofcarryingthemisthemainchecktomorefrequentrobberies。Thecharacterofthehigherandmoreeducatedclasseswhoresideinthetowns，partakes，butperhapsinalesserdegree，ofthegoodpartsoftheGaucho，butis，Ifear，stainedbymanyvicesofwhichheisfree。Sensuality，mockeryofallreligion，andthegrossestcorruption，arefarfromuncommon。Nearlyeverypublicofficercanbebribed。Theheadmaninthepost-officesoldforgedgovernmentfranks。Thegovernorandprimeministeropenlycombinedtoplunderthestate。Justice，wheregoldcameintoplay，washardlyexpectedbyanyone。IknewanEnglishman，whowenttotheChiefJusticehetoldme，thatnotthenunderstandingthewaysoftheplace，hetrembledasheenteredtheroom，andsaid，“Sir，Ihavecometoofferyoutwohundredpaperdollarsvalueaboutfivepoundssterlingifyouwillarrestbeforeacertaintimeamanwhohascheatedme。Iknowitisagainstthelaw，butmylawyernaminghimrecommendedmetotakethisstep。”TheChiefJusticesmiledacquiescence，thankedhim，andthemanbeforenightwassafeinprison。Withthisentirewantofprincipleinmanyoftheleadingmen，withthecountryfullofill-paidturbulentofficers，thepeopleyethopethatademocraticformofgovernmentcansucceed！
　　Onfirstenteringsocietyinthesecountries，twoorthreefeaturesstrikeoneasparticularlyremarkable。Thepoliteanddignifiedmannerspervadingeveryrankoflife，theexcellenttastedisplayedbythewomenintheirdresses，andtheequalityamongstallranks。AttheRioColoradosomemenwhokeptthehumblestshopsusedtodinewithGeneralRosas。A
　　sonofamajoratBahiaBlancagainedhislivelihoodbymakingpapercigars，andhewishedtoaccompanyme，asguideorservant，toBuenosAyres，buthisfatherobjectedonthescoreofthedangeralone。Manyofficersinthearmycanneitherreadnorwrite，yetallmeetinsocietyasequals。
　　InEntreRios，theSalaconsistedofonlysixrepresentatives。Oneofthemkeptacommonshop，andevidentlywasnotdegradedbytheoffice。Allthisiswhatwouldbeexpectedinanewcountry；neverthelesstheabsenceofgentlemenbyprofessionappearstoanEnglishmansomethingstrange。
　　Whenspeakingofthesecountries，themannerinwhichtheyhavebeenbroughtupbytheirunnaturalparent，Spain，shouldalwaysbeborneinmind。Onthewhole，perhaps，morecreditisdueforwhathasbeendone，thanblameforthatwhichmaybedeficient。Itisimpossibletodoubtbutthattheextremeliberalismofthesecountriesmustultimatelyleadtogoodresults。Theverygeneraltolerationofforeignreligions，theregardpaidtothemeansofeducation，thefreedomofthepress，thefacilitiesofferedtoallforeigners，andespecially，asIamboundtoadd，toeveryoneprofessingthehumblestpretensionstoscience，shouldberecollectedwithgratitudebythosewhohavevisitedSpanishSouthAmerica。
　　December6th——TheBeaglesailedfromtheRioPlata，neveragaintoenteritsmuddystream。OurcoursewasdirectedtoPortDesire，onthecoastofPatagonia。Beforeproceedinganyfurther，Iwillhereputtogetherafewobservationsmadeatsea。
　　SeveraltimeswhentheshiphasbeensomemilesoffthemouthofthePlata，andatothertimeswhenofftheshoresofNorthernPatagonia，wehavebeensurroundedbyinsects。Oneevening，whenwewereabouttenmilesfromtheBayofSanBlas，vastnumbersofbutterflies，inbandsorflocksofcountlessmyriads，extendedasfarastheeyecouldrange。Evenbytheaidofatelescopeitwasnotpossibletoseeaspacefreefrombutterflies。
　　Theseamencriedout“itwassnowingbutterflies。”andsuchinfactwastheappearance。Morespeciesthanonewerepresent，butthemainpartbelongedtoakindverysimilarto，butnotidenticalwith，thecommonEnglishColiasedusa。Somemothsandhymenopteraaccompaniedthebutterflies；andafinebeetleCalosomaflewonboard。Otherinstancesareknownofthisbeetlehavingbeencaughtfaroutatsea；andthisisthemoreremarkable，asthegreaternumberoftheCarabidaeseldomornevertakewing。Thedayhadbeenfineandcalm，andtheoneprevioustoitequallyso，withlightandvariableairs。Hencewecannotsupposethattheinsectswereblownofftheland，butwemustconcludethattheyvoluntarilytookflight。ThegreatbandsoftheColiasseematfirsttoaffordaninstancelikethoseonrecordofthemigrationsofanotherbutterfly，Vanessacardui；[5]butthepresenceofotherinsectsmakesthecasedistinct，andevenlessintelligible。Beforesunsetastrongbreezesprungupfromthenorth，andthismusthavecausedtensofthousandsofthebutterfliesandotherinsectstohaveperished。
　　Onanotheroccasion，whenseventeenmilesoffCapeCorrientes，Ihadanetoverboardtocatchpelagicanimals。Upondrawingitup，tomysurprise，Ifoundaconsiderablenumberofbeetlesinit，andalthoughintheopensea，theydidnotappearmuchinjuredbythesaltwater。Ilostsomeofthespecimens，butthosewhichIpreservedbelongedtothegeneraColymbetes，Hydroporus，Hydrobiustwospecies，Notaphus，Cynucus，Adimonia，andScarabaeus。
　　AtfirstIthoughtthattheseinsectshadbeenblownfromtheshore；butuponreflectingthatoutoftheeightspeciesfourwereaquatic，andtwootherspartlysointheirhabits，itappearedtomemostprobablethattheywerefloatedintotheseabyasmallstreamwhichdrainsalakenearCapeCorrientes。Onanysuppositionitisaninterestingcircumstancetofindliveinsectsswimmingintheopenoceanseventeenmilesfromthenearestpointofland。ThereareseveralaccountsofinsectshavingbeenblownoffthePatagonianshore。CaptainCookobservedit，asdidmorelatelyCaptainKingoftheAdventure。Thecauseprobablyisduetothewantofshelter，bothoftreesandhills，sothataninsectonthewingwithanoff-shorebreeze，wouldbeveryapttobeblownouttosea。ThemostremarkableinstanceIhaveknownofaninsectbeingcaughtfarfromtheland，wasthatofalargegrasshopperAcrydium，whichflewonboard，whentheBeaglewastowindwardoftheCapedeVerdIslands，andwhenthenearestpointofland，notdirectlyopposedtothetrade-wind，wasCapeBlancoonthecoastofAfrica，370milesdistant。[6]
　　Onseveraloccasions，whentheBeaglehasbeenwithinthemouthofthePlata，therigginghasbeencoatedwiththeweboftheGossamerSpider。
　　OnedayNovember1st，1832Ipaidparticularattentiontothissubject。
　　Theweatherhadbeenfineandclear，andinthemorningtheairwasfullofpatchesoftheflocculentweb，asonanautumnaldayinEngland。Theshipwassixtymilesdistantfromtheland，inthedirectionofasteadythoughlightbreeze。Vastnumbersofasmallspider，aboutone-tenthofaninchinlength，andofaduskyredcolour，wereattachedtothewebs。
　　Theremusthavebeen，Ishouldsuppose，somethousandsontheship。Thelittlespider，whenfirstcomingincontactwiththerigging，wasalwaysseatedonasinglethread，andnotontheflocculentmass。Thislatterseemsmerelytobeproducedbytheentanglementofthesinglethreads。
　　Thespiderswereallofonespecies，butofbothsexes，togetherwithyoungones。Theselatterweredistinguishedbytheirsmallersizeandmoreduskycolour。Iwillnotgivethedescriptionofthisspider，butmerelystatethatitdoesnotappeartometobeincludedinanyofLatreille’sgenera。
　　Thelittleaeronautassoonasitarrivedonboardwasveryactive，runningabout，sometimeslettingitselffall，andthenreascendingthesamethread；
　　sometimesemployingitselfinmakingasmallandveryirregularmeshinthecornersbetweentheropes。Itcouldrunwithfacilityonthesurfaceofthewater。Whendisturbeditliftedupitsfrontlegs，intheattitudeofattention。Onitsfirstarrivalitappearedverythirsty，andwithexsertedmaxillaedrankeagerlyofdropsofwater，thissamecircumstancehasbeenobservedbyStrack：mayitnotbeinconsequenceofthelittleinsecthavingpassedthroughadryandrarefiedatmosphere？Itsstockofwebseemedinexhaustible。
　　Whilewatchingsomethatweresuspendedbyasinglethread，Iseveraltimesobservedthattheslightestbreathofairborethemawayoutofsight，inahorizontalline。
　　Onanotheroccasion25thundersimilarcircumstances，Irepeatedlyobservedthesamekindofsmallspider，eitherwhenplacedorhavingcrawledonsomelittleeminence，elevateitsabdomen，sendforthathread，andthensailawayhorizontally，butwitharapiditywhichwasquiteunaccountable。
　　IthoughtIcouldperceivethatthespider，beforeperformingtheabovepreparatorysteps，connecteditslegstogetherwiththemostdelicatethreads，butIamnotsurewhetherthisobservationwascorrect。
　　Oneday，atSt。Fe，Ihadabetteropportunityofobservingsomesimilarfacts。Aspiderwhichwasaboutthree-tenthsofaninchinlength，andwhichinitsgeneralappearanceresembledaCitigradethereforequitedifferentfromthegossamer，whilestandingonthesummitofapost，dartedforthfourorfivethreadsfromitsspinners。These，glitteringinthesunshine，mightbecomparedtodivergingraysoflight；theywerenot，however，straight，butinundulationslikefilmsofsilkblownbythewind。
　　Theyweremorethanayardinlength，anddivergedinanascendingdirectionfromtheorifices。Thespiderthensuddenlyletgoitsholdofthepost，andwasquicklyborneoutofsight。Thedaywashotandapparentlycalm；
　　yetundersuchcircumstances，theatmospherecanneverbesotranquilasnottoaffectavanesodelicateasthethreadofaspider’sweb。Ifduringawarmdaywelookeitherattheshadowofanyobjectcastonabank，oroveralevelplainatadistantlandmark，theeffectofanascendingcurrentofheatedairisalmostalwaysevident：suchupwardcurrents，ithasbeenremarked，arealsoshownbytheascentofsoap-bubbles，whichwillnotriseinanin-doorsroom。HenceIthinkthereisnotmuchdifficultyinunderstandingtheascentofthefinelinesprojectedfromaspider’sspinners，andafterwardsofthespideritself；thedivergenceofthelineshasbeenattemptedtobeexplained，IbelievebyMr。Murray，bytheirsimilarelectricalcondition。Thecircumstanceofspidersofthesamespecies，butofdifferentsexesandages，beingfoundonseveraloccasionsatthedistanceofmanyleaguesfromtheland，attachedinvastnumberstothelines，rendersitprobablethatthehabitofsailingthroughtheairisascharacteristicofthistribe，asthatofdivingisoftheArgyroneta。WemaythenrejectLatreille’ssupposition，thatthegossamerowesitsoriginindifferentlytotheyoungofseveralgeneraofspiders：although，aswehaveseen，theyoungofotherspidersdopossessthepowerofperformingaerialvoyages。[7]