220 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



The true northern limit, however, of the antarctic flora 

 may be fixed at the Cordillera Pelada of Valdivia. 



We crept on cautiously into the gulf, anxiously 

 looking out for some safe landmark to secure an 

 entrance into the northern end of Messier's Channel. 

 Soon after midday we descried a remarkable conical 

 hill, which is happily placed so as to distinguish the 

 true opening from the indentations of the rocky coast. 

 As we advanced the air became thicker and colder, 

 as drizzling rain set in ; but the practised eyes of sea- 

 men are content with indications that convey no 

 meaning to an ordinary landsman, and just as the 

 night was closing in almost pitch dark, the rattle of 

 the chain cable announced that we had come to 

 anchor for the night in Hale Cove. 



The w^eather had become very cold. At two p.m. 

 in the gulf the thermometer stood at 42°, and after 

 nightfall it marked only a few degrees above freezing- 

 point, so that, even in the saloon, we sat in our great 

 coats, not at all enjoying the unaccustomed chilliness. 

 All rejoiced, therefore, when the captain, having quite 

 recovered his wonted cheerfulness, announced that a 

 stove was to be set up forthwith in the saloon, and 

 a tent erected on deck to give shelter from the weather. 

 The stove was a small, somewhat rickety concern, and 

 we fully understood that it would not have been safe 

 to light it while the ship was labouring in the heavy 

 seas outside ; but it was especially welcome to me, as 

 I was anxiously longing for the chance of getting my 

 botanical paper thoroughly dry. As we enjoyed a 

 cheerful dinner, two of the officers pushed off in one 

 of the ship's boats into the blackness that had closed 



