The coypu,
sometimes called the South American beaver, inhabits the river-banks,
and is highly prized for its fur. It is also found along the
river-courses of Argentina. The ruminants are represented by a few
species only--the guanaco (_Auchenia huanaco_), _vicuna_ (_A.
vicugna_), _huemul_ (_Cervus chilensis_), which appears on the Chilean
escutcheon, and the _pudu_ deer, a small and not very numerous
species. There are two species of the Edentata, _Dasypus_ and
_Pichiciego_, the latter very rare, and one of the opossums. European
animals, such as horses, cattle, sheep, swine and goats, have been
introduced into the country and do well. Sheep-raising has also been
inaugurated with some degree of success in the vicinity of the Straits
of Magellan. The avifauna, with the exception of waterfowl, is also
limited to comparatively few species. Birds of prey are represented by
the condor, vulture, two species of the carrion-hawk (_Polyborus_),
and owl. The Chilean slopes of the Andes appear to be a favourite
haunt of the condor, where neighbouring stock-raisers suffer severe
losses at times from its attacks. The _Insessores_ are represented by
a number of species. Parrots are found as far south as Tierra del
Fuego, where Darwin saw them feeding on seeds of the Winter's bark.
Humming-birds have a similar range on this coast, one species
(_Mellisuga Kingii_) being quite numerous as far south as Tierra del
Fuego. A characteristic genus is that of _Pteroptochus_, of which
there are three or four species each characterized by some conspicuous
peculiarity. These are _P. megapodius_, called _El Turco_ by the
natives, which is noticeable for its ungainly appearance and awkward
gait; the _P. albicollis_, which inhabits barren hillsides and is
called _tapacollo_ from the manner of carrying its tail turned far
forward over its back; the _P. rubecula_, of Chiloe, a small timid
denizen of the gloomy forest, called the _cheucau_ or _chuca_, whose
two or three notes are believed by the superstitious natives to be
auguries of impending success or disaster; and an allied species
(_Hylactes Tarnii_, King) called the _guid-guid_ or barking bird,
whose cry is a close imitation of the yelp of a small dog. The
southern coast and its inland waters are frequented by several species
of petrel, among which are the _Procellaria gigantea_, whose strength
and rapacity led the Spaniards