March 1829. ANIMALS—BIRDS—ROCK. 195 
The little vessel Mr. Tarn saw was an American sealer, which 
anchored in the bay next morning. 
Besides the guanacoes, and fox, above-mentioned, we saw no 
quadrupeds, although two or three sorts of cavia and the puma 
are common in this neighbourhood. Of birds, nothing interest- 
ing was seen, except a plover (TJ'otanus fuscus?), oyster-catcher 
(Hematopus niger, rostro rubro, pedibus albis), and one of the 
night bitterns, very much resembling the young of the Euro- 
pean bird ;* but these three species had previously been found 
at Port Famine. Several lizards were taken, and preserved. 
This extremely sterile and barren country is very unfavour- 
able for animals of any kind. The soil is like that already 
described about Port Desire. The rock is of the same charac- 
ter as at Port St. Elena and Port Desire: red porphyritic 
claystone.+ 
On the 23d of March, a week having passed since we came 
to Port Desire, my anxiety for the Adelaide's safety was much 
increased; especially as both wind and weather had been favour- 
able for her approach to this rendezvous. I therefore despatched 
Lieut. Wickham overland to Port Desire to order the Beagle 
to join us, and proceed with us to the other points of rendez- 
vous, Port San Julian and Cape Fairweather. Lieut. Wick- 
ham reached Port Desire after a fatiguing walk, and early 
next morning the Beagle was beating into Sea Bear Bay 
against avery strong wind which increased, and detained us. | 
seized this opportunity of completing our consort’s provisions 
to five months. Captain Fitz Roy informed me that he had 
taken advantage of his stay at Port Desire, to ascend the inlet 
to the head. It extended for thirty miles, and the water was 
salt to its very extremity ; but, from the height of the old banks 
on each side, it appeared likely that at times there may be con- 
siderable freshes. At the head of the river he lighted a fire, 
* See Zoological Journal, vol. iv. p. 92. 
+ Nos. 1 and 2 in the Geological Society’s Museum. A new species 
of Solen (Solen Scalprum, nob., Zool. Journ. V. 335. No. 5.) was found 
on the beach; and the camerated nidus of Buccinum muriciforme, nob., 
Zool. Journal, 1. c. No. 62. 
02 
