10 



mountain-stream runs under the highroad to Chili forming 

 a natural bridge. 



Our object for alighting at Puente del Inca was that we 

 wished to pass the Cumhre on muleback instead of going 

 through the tunnel. 



Next morning at 8'/4 we bestrode our mules with the 

 intention of riding over the pass to Caracoles on the 

 Chilian side where we were to take the train to Santiago. 



Our road, the old high-road or mule-road from the 

 Argentine Republic to Chili led us along the most beau- 

 tiful wild mountain scenery. 



On the way I passed some Zenaida auriculata which 

 were looking for food amongst the stones, one Phrijgilus 

 aJdunatii and some other Phrygili (grey., redbrown neck and 

 yellow throat). On the rocks were very conspicuous, as 

 they came quite near, some birds like magnified Nightin- 

 gales almost as large as small Thrushes. 



Before ascending the steep slope which was to lead us 

 to the top of the pass we halted at Las Ciievas, which is 

 the spot were the train enters the tunnel, to get some 

 lunch and let the mules have a rest. 



After this we got on again and ascended the pass along 

 a zigzag road getting beautiful points of view as we got 

 higher and higher and enjoying again a splendid view of 

 the snow-clad masses of the Aconcagua. 



During the ascent I passed numerous small flocks of 

 the yellow and black Siskin (Chrys. atrata) which looked 

 strangely out of place in this perfectly barren region. 

 They perched on the rocks as there were no shrubs nor 

 any vegetation and probably looked for seeds on the ground. 



We got to the pass in due time where the two governments 

 of Argentinia and Chili have erected a bronze statue of 

 the Christ on the frontier-line between the two countries. 



I am told that they could not agree towards which country 

 the Christ would look and so they made the statue look side- 

 ways along the frontier line and this rather spoils the effect. 



Besides the statue there is a stone-hut in which travellers 

 could find some shelter. 



Notes from the Leyden MEuseum, Vol. XXZJCV. 



