i83S.] FLORA OF CHONOS ARCHIPELAGO. 285 



form a variety which by some botanists has been considered 

 as specifically distinct. It is remarkable that the same 

 plant should be found on the sterile mountains of Central 

 Chile, where a drop of rain does not fall for more than six 

 months, and within the damp forests of these southern 

 islands. 



In the central parts of the Chonos Archipelago (lat. 45°), 

 the forest has very much the same character with that 

 along the whole west coast, for 600 miles southward to 

 Cape Horn. The arborescent grass of Chiloe is not found 

 here ; while the beech of Tierra del Fuego grows to a good 

 size, and forms a considerable proportion of the wood ; not, 

 however, in the same exclusive manner as it does farther 

 southward. Cryptogamic plants here find a most con- 

 genial climate. In the Strait of Magellan, as I have before 

 remarked, the country appears too cold and wet to allow 

 of their arriving at perfection ; but in these islands, within 

 the forest, the number of species and great abundance of 

 mosses, lichens, and small ferns, is quite extraordinary."'^ 

 In Tierra del Fuego trees grow only on the hill-sides ; 

 every level piece of land being invariably covered by a 

 thick bed of peat ; but in Chiloe flat land supports the 

 most luxuriant forests. Here, within the Chonos Archi- 

 pelago, the nature of the climate more closely approaches 

 that of Tierra del Fuego than that of northern Chiloe ; for 

 every patch of level ground is covered by two species 

 of plants {Astelia pumila and Donatia mageUanicd)^ which 

 by their joint decay compose a thick bed of elastic 

 peat. 



In Tierra del Fuego, above the regions of woodland, the 

 former of these eminently sociable plants is the chief agent 

 in the production of peat. Fresh leaves are always suc- 

 ceeding one to the other round the central tap-root ; the 

 lower ones soon decay, and in tracing a root downwards 

 In the peat, the leaves, vet holding their place, can be 

 observed passing through every stage of decomposition, 

 till the whole becomes blended In one confused mass. The 



potatoes and an abundance of leaves. See Humboldt's interesting discussion on 

 this plant, which it appears was unknown in Mexico. — in "Polit. Essay on New 

 Spain," book iv., chap. ix. 



* Hy sweepinj; with my insect-net, 1 procured from these situations a con- 

 siderable number of minute insects, of the family of Staphylinidte, and others 

 allied to Pselaphus, and minute Hymenoptera. Hut tlie most characteristic 

 r.4pilly in number, both of individuals and species, throughout the mote open 

 ■itfiru of Chiloe and Chonos, is that of the Telephorid*. 



