39 



there were also big patches of Fifzroi/a patagonica. Some 

 of the rocks were overgrown with mosses of a rufus tinge 

 and which I was told grew to a height of nearly two feet. 



After having passed a narrow turning between Dawson 

 island on the right and the southern part of Bnmswick 

 peninsula ont the left we passed Port Famine on that same 

 peninsula and now got into wider water and in the course 

 of the day, early after noon reached Punta Arenas. 



During the voyage from Corral I had decided not to go 

 on with the „Negada" to Montevideo but to land at Punta 

 Arenas in order to see something of Tierra del Fuego. — 



My companions not being inclined to this course we 

 parted at Punta Arenas were I landed alone. — 



As the ship was lying in the harbour I noticed some 

 very pretty small shellfishes of a scarlet colour that were 

 swimming in shoals round the ship. They looked very 

 much like a Japanese Goldfish that would be swimming 

 with its higs fins forward. 



So I landed with my belongings on the pier and found 

 a room in the Kosmoshotel which stands in the immediate 

 proximity of the Sea. 



The weather was fine but the wind was icy cold. 



Next morning I started for a general survey of the 

 town. The town is built against the slope of the hills. 

 The oldest part stands near the sea, the more recent buil- 

 dings are higher up. 



There once was an enormous forest round Punta Arenas 

 but fires (three years ago there was a forest-fire that lasted 

 6 months) have completely distroyed it, so that the town 

 is surrounded now by ghastly looking black tree trunks 

 that stand out dispairingly against the sky. 



Going about the town and its surrounding country I was 

 struck by the complete absence of any landbird. The only 

 birds I saw, were in confinement, they were a few caged 

 Chrysomitris barbata, one Frigilus gagi, three Bernicla 

 dispar^ two young Bhea darwini^ one Theristicus melanops 

 and a hlack Rail. 



There is a convent in the town of roman catholic "padres." 



Notes from the Leyden IMuseum, "Vol. XXXV. 



