272 HUMMING-BIRDS, [chap, xiii 



species migrates in the summer southward, it is replaced 

 by the arrival of another species coming from the north. 

 This second kind [Trochilus gigas) is a very large bird 

 for the delicate family to which it belongs ; when on the 

 wing its appearance is singular. Like others of tlie 

 genus, it moves from place to place with a rapidity which 

 may be compared to that of Syrphus amongst flies, and 

 Sphinx amongst moths ; but whilst hovering over a 

 flower, it flaps its wings with a very slow and powerful 

 movement, totally different from that vibratory one 

 common to most of the species, which produces the 

 humming noise, I ' never saw any other bird, where the 

 force of its wings appeared (as in a butterfly) so powerful 

 in proportion to the weight of its body. When hovering 

 by a flower, its tail is constantly expanded and shut like 

 a fan, the body being kept in a nearly vertical position. 

 This action appears to steady and support the bird, 

 between the slow movements of its wings. Although 

 flying from flower to flower in search of food, its stomach 

 generally contained abundant remains of insects, which I 

 suspect are much more the object of its search than honey. 

 The note of this species, like that of nearly the whole 

 family, is extremely shrill. 



CHAPTER Xni. 



CHILOE AND CHONOS ISLANDS. 



Chiloe — General Aspect — Boat excursion — Native Indians — 

 Castro — Tamefox — Ascend San Pedro — Chonos Archipelago 

 — Peninsula of Tres Monies — Granitic range — Boat wrecked 

 sailors — Low's Harbour — Wild Potato — Formation of peat 

 — Myopotamus, otter and mice — Cheucau and Barking-bird 

 — Opetiorhynchus — Singular character of Ornithology — 

 Petrels. 



November loth. — The Beagle sailed from Valparaiso to the 

 south, for the purpose of surveying the southern part of 

 Chile, the Island of Chiloe, and the broken land called 

 the Chonos Archipelago, as far south as the Peninsula of 

 Tres Montes. On the 21st we anchored in the bay of 

 San Carlos, the capital of Chiloe. 

 This island is about ninety miles long, with a breadth 



