Letters, Announcements, S^c. 493 



of an inch broad and rather more than an inch long, and, pro- 

 ceeding upwards and outwards, forms a thin fan-shaped muscular 

 hand, which by degrees assumes a membranaceous character 

 and, spreading out, is attached to the aponeurosis enveloping the 

 muscles of the front and outer side of the leg, extending from 

 the knee-joint about a couple of inches downwards. My friend 

 Dr. Campbell, who examined another Albatros at my request, 

 found the same muscle. I send you an accurate though rough 

 sketch of it, in case you can give me any information about it. 

 I got some large Anoplura on the feathers of the bird, and have 

 preserved them. Noticing some beautiful Acalephce in the water, 

 I had a towiug-net put over, but was obliged to have it hauled 

 in almost immediately, as the Albatroses pounced upon it and 

 nearly tore it to pieces. 



We entered the Bay of Ancud on tlie forenoon of the 28th ; 

 and 1 landed in the afternoon (which, for a rarity, was a fine 

 one), and was much delighted with the semitropical chai'acter of 

 the vegetation — a large bamboo-like grass forming a conspicuous 

 feature, and Bromeliacece being rather plentiful. We remained 

 at Ancud rather more than ten days, getting two or thi'ee very 

 fine ones, which allowed us to have some pleasant walks and 

 some wonderful views of the peak of Osorno and the distant 

 Cordillera. Humming-birds were very plentiful ; but I think 

 all belonging to one species, which extends from Port Famine 

 westward throughout the Strait and through the entire range of 

 the Channels. They looked exceedingly beautiful flying about 

 the flowers of the fuchsias, which were in full glory during our 

 visit, their heads gleaming with burnished gold in the sunshine. 

 A little greyish bird with a white line on each side of the head 

 was common on the rocks on the beach ; it is also abundant at 

 Sandy Point and throughout the western part of the Strait and 

 the Channels. In its movements it resembles a Wagtail. I 

 often heard the cries of the Cheucau and Barking-bird ; but they 

 were very difficult to see. The Galliuazo Vulture was very 

 plentiful, and so were several of the Strait Hawks. A A'umcnius, 

 which I think is our N. pfueopiis*, is common but shy. The 

 Steamer-Duck is to be seen, but not very plentifully; and Cor- 

 ' [Probably .V. hudsonicus or N.horealis(rf. P.Z.S. lSr;7.p.:<33).— P. L.S.] 



