BRITISH PACIFIC SQUADRON. 



above the sea. In this parched region the plant is 

 stunted, and the leaves are hoary with minute white 

 hairs, which may serve as a protection against evapo- 

 ration. The same species, with other slight modifica- 

 tions, extends to all the drier portions of the western 

 coast as far south as Central Chili. A dwarf shrub 

 with yellow flowers like those of a jessamine, but 

 with very different two-horned fruit, called Skytanthus, 

 was an example of a much greater amount of change. 

 Its only allies are two species in tropical Brazil, very 

 different in appearance, though nearly similar in 

 essential structure. We may safely conclude that a 

 long period has elapsed since these forms diverged 

 from a common stock, and that many intermediate 

 links have perished during the interval. 



Several of the ships composing the British Pacific 

 squadron were' lying at Caldera at this time, and after 

 returning from my short excursion ashore, I went on 

 board the Triumph, Captain Albert Markham, bearing 

 the flag of Admiral Lyons, commander-in-chief With 

 regret I declined the admiral's hospitable invitation 

 to accompany the squadron to Valparaiso, but I was 

 unable to refuse Captain Markham's kind suggestion 

 that, as his ship was under orders to return to 

 England on the arrival of the Swiftsiire, then ex- 

 pected, I should become his guest on the passage 

 from Valparaiso to Montevideo. The Triumph having 

 been detained in Chilian waters many weeks longer 

 than was then expected, I was afterwards forced to 

 forego the agreeable prospect of a voyage in company 

 with an officer whose varied accomplishments and 

 extensive observation of nature under the most varied 



