18091842] VOYAGE 19 



by finding a bed of recent shells at the bottom. I have not Letter 5 

 sufficient arguments, but I do not believe that more than a 

 small fraction of the height of the Andes has been formed 

 within the Tertiary period. The conclusion of my excursion 

 was very unfortunate, I became unwell and could hardly 

 reach this place. I have been in bed for the last month, but 

 am now rapidly getting well. I had hoped during this time 

 to have made a good collection of insects but it has been 

 impossible : I regret the less because Chiloe fairly swarms 

 with collectors ; there are more naturalists in the country, 

 than carpenters or shoemakers or any other honest trade. 



In my letter from the Falkland Islands I said I had fears 

 about a box with a Megatherium. I have since heard from 

 B. Ayres that it went to Liverpool by the brig BasingwaitJie. 

 If you have not received it, it is I think worth taking 

 some trouble about. In October two casks and a jar were 

 sent by H.M.S. Samarang via Portsmouth. I have no doubt 

 you have received them. With this letter I send a good 

 many bird skins ; in the same box with them, there is a 

 paper parcel containing pill boxes with insects. The other 

 pill boxes require no particular care. You will see in two 

 of these boxes some dried Planarice (terrestrial), the only 

 method I have found of preserving them (they are exceedingly 

 brittle). By examining the white species I understand some 

 little of the internal structure. There are two small parcels 

 of seeds. There are some plants which I hope may interest 

 you, or at least those from Patagonia where I collected 

 every one in flower. There is a bottle clumsily but I think 

 securely corked containing water and gas from the hot 

 baths of Cauquenes seated at foot of Andes and long cele- 

 brated for medicinal properties. I took pains in filling and 

 securing both water and gas. If you can find any one who 

 likes to analyze them, I should think it would be worth 

 the trouble. I have not time at present to copy my few 

 observations about the locality, etc., etc., [of] these springs. 

 Will you tell me how the Arachnidae which I have sent home, 

 for instance those from Rio, appear to be preserved. I have 

 doubts whether it is worth while collecting them. 



We sail the day after to-morrow : our plans are at last 

 limited and definite ; I am delighted to say we have bid 

 an eternal adieu to T. del Fuego. The Beagle will not 



