El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-04-10

r7y them with solutions OF kerosene.
Ant Is Serious Pest.
Another insect pest Of Argentina Is the
ant. There is one species that is not much
bigger than the head Of a large pin. but II
exists in such numbers that the damage is
cotton. II bites its way into the oranges
and Il cravls into the houses II likes TO
work in the dark and no place is safe from
it. In some sections the bedpOsts rest in
bowls Of water or on panes OF glass coated
with vaseline to keep the ants out. and / am
told that it is sometimes necessary TO take
the babies from their cradles and dip them
in Waterato clean off the ants. The little
insects are so small that they get into their
mouths and nOstrils, and there are reports
OF babies that have been killed by them
The Argentine ant has caused trouble in
the United States These ants have been
carried by ships 10 our gulf voast, and for a
time there were 50 many in New Orleans
that they became known as the New Orleans
ant They are also found in southern Cali
Not Equal to United States.
The animal life Of Argentina does not
compare in variety with that Of the United
States The greater part Of the country is
treeless. and there are but few wild birds
and wild beasts in comparison with some
other parts Of the world ] have seen con-
doris in the Andes They are the highest
birds that Fly anu their favOrite breeding
places are two or three miles above the
sea They may often be seen among the
SHOWS and are also on exhibition in the
American capitals. I photographed a half
dozen in the zoo at Lima. Peru, and it
seemed TO me they were about the ugiiest
birds in the whole aviary.
The condor lis not seen on the pampas,
although there are many vultures Of other
kinds there and in other parts OF Argentina.
The carancho makes one think Of a cross
between a vulture and hawk It is
comparatively small bird Of a dark brown
color with light band across Its wings.
The carancho is one Of the pests OF the
pastoral districts. It not only eats carriOn.
but it will attack the lambs and pick out
their eyes.
About the most interesting Of the large
birds Of Argentina is the rhea, or the South
American ostrich They are found IN great
numbers running over the pampas and there
are thousands Of them in Patagonia I have
seen them from the car windows and have
watched them hunted in the desert. Where
they squat down and hide their heads in the
sand They are then OF the same gray color
as the bushes and punches OF scrub all
around them and II takes good eye TO
distinguish the birds from the bush The
ostrich has always been laughed at for this
silly custom, but. indeed, there Is nothing
more cunning and g forms a means Of con-
cealment that the bird could have in no
other way. When the rhea stands up you
can easily distinguish him. but when he
squats down, with his head out OF sight.
he is merely a bush 10 the hunter
in walking the ostrich keeps il wings
closed and swings its neck backward and
forward. In running &c raises its wings and
the ground. skimming the air When It
charges. its wings are outspread. and the
head and neck are held down II can
frighten q horse and when angry viii attack
a man upon horseback The American o.
trich mas three toes. while the African has
two. Its foot IS large and powerful
Move in FlOcks.
The ostriches Of Pata gonla and the PAM
pas move about in flocks. each consisting OF
a cock and a number OF hens. Each cock
has its own hens and Il will fight 10 the
death any other cock that sones near them
The cock bosses the hens He is a sort OF
3 sultan and they seem to be the ladies OF
heir eggs in one nest. each hen giving her
share until 50 eggs may be there in one
hole in the sand When this is complete the
,ock takes charge OF the eggs. and sits on
hem. spelled now and then by hen. as his
ordship directs. He has 10 keep sitting
Tor five or six weeks before the chicks
latch
Some Of the ostrich eggs weigh a pound
md half and il is not uncommon TO have
iue served as an omelette when you stop
'ver night in camp. The cock objects TO
having any one touch the eggs. and II they
ire disturbed he VIII leave that nest and
tart another
Father Looks After Young
II IS the father that takes care OF the /
Dung ostrich brood He calls them 20 him /
With q peculiar booming sound and tbs 1
abies reply with a chirp. He keeps track 1
4 them. and IS almost crazy II they are 4
disturbed. At such times he viii charge 1
og or a man upon horseback. and II he i
an knock down his enemy he viii kick and 4
lite him His kick IS terrible, and il Is I
ometimes strong enough to kill dog or /
nan OF late some OF the estancieros have 4
zen introducing the African ostrich. It l
hrives-