134 PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS : NARRATIVE. 



Pernettya empetrifolia , completely covered the surface of the ground. 

 This in turn was literally buried beneath a mass of red berries, about the 

 size of the small red currant, and scarcely inferior to the latter in flavor. 

 These berry patches, which in places actually covered the entire surface, 

 were at this season of the year favorite feeding grounds for certain species 

 of large grouse-like plover, while ducks, geese, and other waterfowl were 

 not infrequently seen partaking of the rich, juicy fruit. Under cultivation, 

 I see no reason why so hardy a plant, so prolific in the production of fruit 

 of such excellent flavor, might not become of considerable economic value. 

 I dried and brought with me to the States a quantity of the berries and 

 seeds, which were distributed among certain cranberry growers in New 

 Jersey, beside sending a considerable quantity to the Agricultural Depart- 

 ment at Washington, in hopes that they might be successfully growm and 

 prove of some economic value. Having heard nothing from them, I infer 

 that in either instance they were so carefully or carelessly put away for 

 safe keeping, that they have not been since resurrected and transferred to 

 the soil. 



I passed the day on the summit of this ridge, which was somew^hat 

 above timber line, and, although the month was February, there still re- 

 mained occasional snow drifts. Of plant life there was little, while of ani- 

 mals there were almost none, save the plover and waterfowl already men- 

 tioned. Such plants as there were, were to a great extent limited to a 

 number of hardy lichens clinging tenaciously to the rocks and a small 

 variety of subalpine flowering plants, which, for the most part, I had not 

 seen elsewhere. Among others there was a species of Oxalis with such 

 delicately dissected leaves and exquisitely beautiful pink blossoms that it 

 seemed strangely misplaced and out of harmony with so apparently uncon- 

 genial surroundings. Descending to the lower slopes of the head of the 

 Rio Chico, I met with a variety of Compositae belonging, principally, 

 to the genus of asters, which for abundance, beauty and variety of colors, 

 I do not believe can be excelled elsewhere by representatives of this 

 family in a state of nature and entirely unaided by artificial cultivation and 

 cross-fertilization. Despite the terrific wind which prevailed and was ac- 

 companied at frequent intervals by snow, rain, hail and sleet, I passed a 

 most interesting and profitable day on the summit, and returned in the 

 evening to our camp in the valley with a considerable number of most 

 w^elcome additions to our botanical collections. Descending from the 



