27 



the bed of the lava itself was almost devoid of vegeta- 

 tion. The only thing that seemed to thrive or be able to 

 live on this comparatively new lava were numberless 

 bushes of Peniettyas. The bushes were full of berries in 

 all colours^ some were blueish, some were pink, some were 

 nearly black and some were pure white. 



Near this place the mountain stream was wilder than 

 ever, rushing between the rocks in a torrential way. 



Here a welcome sight awaited me. 



On a big piece of rock in the wildest place of the tor- 

 rent were eight Mergmietta ancUna. 



Five were males and three were females, easily known 

 by their rufous colour. * 



They were sitting very upright much like Cormorans. 



When they saw me they jumped right into the seething 

 water and although with their heads towards the fall of 

 the water, managed to stay almost in the same place 

 looking at me all the while. After a time they swam to 

 another rock, jumped upon it, jumped off again into the 

 torrent, dived under to reappear at a small distance, and 

 in the end hid themselves behind some other rocks. They 

 did 7iot attempt to fly as I got nearer. 



It was almost dark as we reached Petrohué on the lake 

 Todos los Santos and before the horses and everything 

 was got into the little steamer it was quite dark, but soon 

 a glorious moon illuminated the landscape. About three 

 hours later we landed at Peulla where we found a very 

 comfortable inn kept by Germans. 



Next morning I could admire all the beauties of 

 this lake and its mountain scenery round it in brilliant 

 sunshine. 



Behind the inn, a little up the mountain was a narrow 

 cut between the rocks, along which a mountain stream 

 came down forming in one spot a lovely waterfall a kind 

 of „Staubbach". 



All the rocks around were overgrown with splendid 

 Ferns and Fuchsias and as I waited a little, an occasio- 

 nal Goldencrowned Hummingbird would suddenly appear 



Notes from tke Leyden Museum, Vol. XXXV. 



