FAUNA OF CHILI. 441 



bite is very dangerous in tlie hot harvest season. Reptiles are altogether absent 

 in the humid southern islands. 



In the Magellanic and Fuegian archipelagoes the insects present a remarkable 

 affinity to those of North Europe ; even the corresponding species occurring at the 

 northern extremity of the New World diverge more from those of the extreme 

 south than do the allied European types. 



The running waters of Chili have scarcely any fi.sh, and the Andean lakes none 

 at all, but the neighbouring seas abound in animal life. Prodigious banks of 

 mussels (^mytihis chorus) encircle the Chonos islands. A seaweed {macroc//stis 

 jj//rifera) growing to a length of 300 or 400 feet, in depths of 150 feet off the 

 Magellanic coasts round the headlands and reefs, forms a distinct marine world 

 inhabited by myriads of shellfish, animalcules and organisms of all sizes, which 

 cling to its leathery bands, and by multitudes of fishes frequenting its mane-like 

 branches. Floating masses of these algse are strong enough to deaden the shock 

 of a vessel going at full speed. 



The Juan Fernandez group, which is distinguished by its indigenous flora, 

 also possesses a fauna of an original character. Here are captured a species of 

 cod different from that of Newfoundland, and a crayfish of huge size (palinurus 

 frontalis), which are brought to the Valparaiso market. Sea otters, seals and " sea 

 lions" abound in the surrounding waters. The larger island is inhabited by two 

 species of humming-birds, one unknown elsewhere, the other found also in Chili ; 

 Mas a Fuera possesses a third species occurring nowhere else, either in the archi- 

 pelago or on the mainland. These three humming-birds belong to the genus 

 eusfcjjhaiius. so surpi'isingly rich in differentiated forms. 



VI. 



Inhabitants of Chili. 



When the Spaniards were led into the country by Almagro and Valdivia the 

 Quichuas were masters of all the northern section as far as the river Maule. But 

 they do not appear to have formed any colonies, but merely held military posses- 

 sion of the land, while striving to impose their laws and institutions on the inhabi- 

 tants. In this they may perhaps have succeeded in some districts, for according 

 to the local traditions their rule had already lasted a century, while their political 

 system was eveiywhere distinguished by the success with which it was imposed 

 on the conquered peoples. 



On the other hand, the Quichuas came from such a remote region, which was, 

 moreover, separated from Chili by lofty ranges and inhospitable wastes, that they 

 could at no time have been very numerous in these southern lands. Nothing 

 remains to recall their sojourn in the country except a few sculptures, amongst 

 others the so-called Piedra Pmtada in Atacama. This " Painted Rock " shows that 

 the civilised invaders had reached Chili not only by the valleys of the Argentine 

 Andes, but also by the direct routes across the desert plains of the seaboard. 



