24 



A Vulture draws circles overhead. 



After having wandered through the forest a couple of 

 hours and having seen that besides on the range I was 

 on, there was another mountain range with Auracarias 

 on its upper half to the west, I tell my guide that I 

 want to go home. 



The rather unexpected answer is that he has lost his 

 direction ! 



As I had however taken' good care not to loose mine 

 and told him so, he soon got hold of the direction again 

 and we were soon on the track that we had left when we 

 entered the forest. 



Another 5 hours ride through all the wild scenery took 

 us home to Angol where we arrived just as the evening 

 was setting in after a 12 hours ride. 



The revolver remained unused, except the charcoal- 

 burners not a soul was seen after we left the neighbour- 

 hood of Angol and the wonders of the ancient Auracaria 

 forest well repaid me for my ride ! 



Next day I left Angol taking the train to Ossorno which 

 is the southern end of the railway. At the place where 

 the train branches off from Renaico to Ossorno the railway- 

 bank is overgrown with Gnnnera scabra in all sizes. 



This plant as I afterwards found has the power to adapt 

 itself wonderfully to circumstances. In damp warm spots 

 it grows leaves 5 — 6 feet high and more. In dry exposed 

 places it makes clumps scarcely larger than a big daisy. 



I arrived in Ossorno during the evening, and next morning 

 when I looked out of my window I saw dozens of black 

 Vultures sunning themselves on the roofs opposite. The 

 white shafts in their wing feathers looked quite ornamental. 

 As they sat with extended wings they formed a yellowish 

 white spot. Ossorno with one a little doubtful exception 

 is the most southern place where I met with Cathartes 

 atrata whilst I saw Cathartes aura as far south as the 

 Smith channel near the straits of Magellan. 



From Ossorno I took a horse to ride to Puerto Octay. 

 This is a trip of about 60 KM. and one mostly rides through 



Notes from the Leyden IMuseum, "Vol. XXX"V". 



