A BEAUTIFUL BAY 173 



in which state it much resembles the young of 

 our blackbird, except that it has a black cap. 

 This bird was met with frequently later on in 

 Smythe's Channel, and was, in fact, one of the 

 few land-birds seen there. Its melancholy 

 whistle was to be heard continually ringing out 

 over the otherwise silent fjords towards sunset. 



At daybreak the next morning we left Port 

 Gallant, and, proceeding westwards, anchored 

 towards evening at Churruca Bay, which is the 

 most western anchorage in the Straits of Magellan. 

 This place is one of the most beautiful that it has 

 ever been my good fortune to see. Towering 

 peaks, covered from summit to base with im- 

 penetrable beech forests, almost encircled the 

 deeply indented bay, the water of which was inky 

 black, and the surface smooth as glass. Here 

 and there were little islets, some fringed with a tall 

 white-flowered plant ; others surrounded with 

 hedges of fuchsias in full flower. Flock after flock 

 of Magellan cormorants flew by us, their white 

 breasts flashing bright against the dark water of 

 the bay, while steamer-ducks scudded to right 

 and left, as we glided to our anchorage in the 

 glorious natural harbour. 



As soon as the anchor was down we had two 

 boats lowered. A long chase after steamer-ducks 

 proved unsuccessful. The birds dived at the least 

 alarm, to reappear far out of shot, and escaped 

 over the water with their curious flapping " run." 



