288 CHONOS ARCHIPELAGO. [chap. xiit. 



swims in shoals near the surface of the water. Mr. Bynoe saw 

 one in Tierra del Fuego eating a cuttle-fish ; and at Low's 

 Harbour, another was killed in the act of carrying to its hole a 

 large volute shell. At one place I caught in a trap a singular 

 little mouse (M. brachiotis) ; it appeared common on several of 

 the islets, but the Chilotans at Low's Harbour said that it was 

 not found in all. What a succession of chances,* or what 

 changes of level must have been brought into play, thus to spread 

 these small animals throughout this broken archipelago ! 



In all parts of Chiloe and Chonos, two very strange birds 

 occur, which are allied to, and replace, the Turco and 

 Tapacolo of central Chile. One is called by the inhabi- 

 tants " Cheucau " (Pteroptochos *rubecula) : it frequents the 

 most gloomy and retired spots within the damp forests. Some- 

 times, although its cry may be heard close at hand, let a person 

 watch ever so attentively he will not see the cheucau ; at other 

 times, let him stand motionless and the red-breasted little bird 

 will approach within a few feet in the most familiar manner. It 

 then busily hops about the entangled mass of rotting canes and 

 branches, with its little tail cocked upwards. The cheucau is 

 held in superstitious fear by the Chilotans, on account of its 

 strange and varied cries. There are three very distinct cries : 

 one is called " chiduco," and is an omen of good ; another, 

 " huitreu," which is extremely unfavourable ; and a third, which 

 I have forgotten. These words are given in imitation of the 

 noises ; and the natives are in some things absolutely governed by 

 them. The Chilotans assuredly have chosen a most comical 

 little creature for their prophet. An allied species, but rather 

 larger, is called by the natives " Guid-guid " (Pteroptochos 

 Tarnii), and by the English the barking-bird. This latter name 

 is well given ; for I defy any one at first to feel certain that a 

 small dog is not yelping somewhere in the forest. Just as with 

 the cheucau, a person will sometimes hear the bark close by, but 

 in vain may endeavour by watching, and with still less chance by 

 beating the bushes, to see the bird ; yet at other times the guid- 



* It is said that some rapacious birds bring their prey alive to their nests. 

 If so, in the course of centuries, every now and then, one might escape from 

 the young birds. Some such agency is necessary, to account for the distri- 

 bution of the smaller gnawing animals on islands not very near each other. 



