34 



the tops of the giant trees. These birds were probably 

 feeding on the seeds of the Urmus trees which are very 

 numerous, and on the countless other seeds and berries as 

 well (the Urmus fruit looks like a small olive). 



The woods also resounded from the calls of the large 

 grey white backed Woodpecker, Colaptes pitius MoL, which 

 as I mentioned before goes about in small imrties. 



Riding through woods in Chili I had often heard a 

 curious tremhUng noise in the thickest parts of the forest, 

 but I had never seen the author although the noise fol- 

 lowed one. 



This time I was more fortunate and saw that it origi- 

 nated from a beautiful goldenhroivn and hlaclihrown Httle 

 Creeimr-Uke-hird with a white underside which apparently 

 lived in the thickest jungle. This bird is Oxyurus spmi- 

 cauda (Gmelin) and is quite a feature in the Chilian forest 

 from the way it has of following the traveller. 



In the damp places near streams the Fuchsia bushes 

 were very beautiful as well as the finely subdivided tall 

 Ferns with black stems. In the Fuchsias one could usually 

 see a goldencrowned Hunuiiingbird, which appeared suddenly 

 screaming loudly to hover under the flowers. 



It would soon disappear but was back as suddenly. 



A little farther several trees had bunches of a beautiful 

 scarlet floivering parasitic plant with square bluish green 

 leaves. 



Of these flowers the Hummingbirds were also very fond. 



Riding on I came to a tangle of Europjean Brambles 

 which had spread there in a dreadfull manner and on 

 them quite a flock of Turdus magellanicus were feeding 

 on the berries ; some flew away as I came near but a 

 good many were quite tame and suffered me to pass wit- 

 hout being disturbed. 



I also saw, also feeding on the brambles some Phyto- 

 toma rara. 



In some places the Bamboos grew against the trees to 

 a great height hanging down from the big branches like 

 a creeper. 



Notes from the Leyden Museum, Vol. XXXV. 



