PATAGONIAN EEGION. 115 



snails are few and small, and only seen after the dews. At 

 Valparaiso rain is abundant during the three winter months, 

 and the southern coasts are luxuriantly wooded, and extremely 

 wet. The characteristic pulmonifera are the fresh-water 

 Chilinias. The genus Biichanania is doubtful. There are 

 31 species of Bulimus (including B. CMIensis, Plectostylus) and 

 22 of Helix; Succinea Chiloensis, Ancylus Gay anus (Yalparaiso), 

 Planorhis fuscus, Paludestrina sp. Unio Chihnsis, Fisidium 

 Chilense (Yaldiyia). Helix Binneyana is found on the island of 

 Chiloe. 



The Island of Juan Fernandez (36) has at least 20 species of 

 land shells, all peculiar to it : — 



Helix quadi-ata. Omalonyx Gayana. Tomatellina miiiuta. 



„ arctispira. Achatina diapliana. „ trocliifonnia. 



„ pusio. „ splendicla. Succinea Cumingi. 



„ tessellata. „ bulimoides. „ marmllata. 



„ ceroides. „ conifera. „ fragilis. 



„ mannorella. „ acuminata? Parmacella Cumingi, 



„ helicophantoides. Spiraxis consimilis. 



In the adjoining island, Masafiiera, are found — 



Tomatellina Eecluzii. Snccinea semiglobosa. 



Succinea rubicunda. „ pinguis. 



27. Patagonian Begion. 



The Pampas, or great plains of Patagonia, are dry and rain- 

 less nearly all the year; the vegetation which springs up 

 during the light summer rains becomes converted into natural 

 hay for the support of the wild animals. In Puegia the mean 

 temperature is 33° — 50* , and there is rain and snow through- 

 out the year ; yet the bases of the mountains are clothed with 

 forests of evergreen beech.* Bulimus sporadicns is found on the 

 banks of the Eiver Negro, and B. lidescens at the Straits of 

 Magellan ; Helix lyrata (costellata, D'Orbigny ?) and H. saxa- 

 tilis inhabit Fuegia. Succinea magellanica is also found at the 

 Straits, and Cliilinia fluminea, Limncea viatrix, a Paludestrina, 

 Anodon puelchanus, and Unio Patagonicus in the Eiver Kegro. 

 Peronia marginata and Potamides ccelafus were discovered in 

 Fuegia by Mr. Couthouy. 



The Falkland Islands are 300 miles east of Patagonia, and the 

 only recorded shells are two species of Paludestrina. There is 



• Humming-biirls nre seen fluttering about delicate floxvers, and parrots feeding 

 r.i..-dst the ercr £;re'n wocdr. (Darwin, p. 251.) 



