72 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [ Sess. LXXIV. 
blossom (Frageria chilensis?). In a natural wood I saw 
that beautiful creeper, the “copihue” (Lapageria rosea), 
“quintral” (Loranthus tetrandus)—a parasite with long, 
tubular, scarlet flowers, and a small and very beautiful 
species of Cassia. A small bamboo formed a matted tangle 
of undergrowth, which made walking almost impossible 
except on the path. 
We joined the “Oronsa” again next day at Talcahuano, 
and sailed for Valparaiso. 
The country about Valparaiso is very hilly. The soil, 
which is dark red in colour, is very brittle, and is furrowed 
and fissured by the streamlets which descend during the 
short rainy season, when rain falls very heavily. Owing 
to the dryness of the atmosphere, many of the small herbs 
come up, produce flowers and seed, and die down again with 
great rapidity, so that the aspect of the hillside changes 
markedly from week to week. One day the hill is all 
white in places with a small liiaceous flower (Ornitho- 
galum sp.). Ten days later, hardly a specimen can be 
found, but the hillside is pk with Leucocoryne, for example. 
And so the changes are rung, and the collector is hard put 
to it to keep pace with the fugitive flora. 
Striking amongst the smaller plants are Pasithea cerulea, 
Enothera acaulis and O. Berteriana, Triptilion spinosum, 
Sisyrinchium speciosum, Calandrinia grandiflora, and 
some orchises of the genus Chlorwa, with certain species of 
Loasa and Alstremeria. Calceolaria and Ozalis are repre- 
sented by a number of species, the latter being always 
either pink or yellow. A maritime Ozalis, with yellow 
flowers, has thick fleshy stems and leaves. 
Familar flowers are Tropwolum tricolorwm, and species 
of Schizanthus, Salpiglossis, Escallonia, and Alonsoa. The 
Composite are well represented, Wutisia being an interest- 
ing genus. Among the larger flowering plants are tree 
Senecios, a tall erect Cactus, and a large red-flowered 
Lobelia which has a great attraction for the humming- 
birds. The order Bromeliacez is represented by the curious 
“chagual,” of which there are two species, one with yellow 
and one with greenish-blue flowers (Puya chilensis, and 
P. Whytei, Hook.= Pitcairnia coerulea respectively). A 
bushy Euphorbia is everywhere present. 
