ei 



Consisted of adults and young birds of the year as was 

 visible by the colour of the plumage and the bill. The old 

 males were conspicuous by their light grey plumage and 

 brilliant yellow bills. The old females were slightly darker 

 and the young ones had darkish spotted bills and duller 

 plumage tinged brownish. All were enormous and heavy 

 birds and quite unable to fly. My friend shot one of the 

 birds with my revolver and as I afterwards saw, when I 

 got it, it was a young male with greenish spotted bill. The 

 greenish colour was especially marked round the nostrils. 



After having got the duck in the boat we went on land 

 and here had occasion to wonder at the strange soil. 



It was simply a mass of j^eat which was saturated with 

 water. In some parts there were holes full of moisture. 



All over this peat grew mosses, most extraordinary 

 to look at. Some were red, some yellow, but the greater 

 part was greenish or brownish. Besides the mosses there 

 were different kinds of peatloving plants, amongst them 

 masses of Nertera depressa with red fruit and ferns. 



Also little bushes like evergreen prickly Barberies with 

 bright yellow red flowers, and Fuchsia bushes. 



The forest consisted of Fitzroija patagonica^ Desfontainea 

 spinosa Ruis. & Par. and trees resembling i/ews^ also of 

 evergreen Beeches (Fag us hetuloides). 



This peculiar soil made it very difficult to travel over it, 

 as one was in danger every moment of falling into one of 

 the deep water holes. Also one could not stand very long 

 in one place as in that case the surface vegetation would 

 begin to give way. 



However, I made the most of my time and penetrated 

 inland as far as I could, wondering at all I saw and 

 enjoying the beautiful weather which would not leave me 

 untill we left Melinka after several days. 



Time being up we returned to the vessel with the 

 Steamer Duck which I afterwards skinned and have now 

 mounted in my house. 



Soon after we were returned on board the ship continued 

 its course. 



Notes from the Leyden IMuseuin, 'Vol. XXX.V. 



