1910] THAXTER—CHILEAN FUNGI 431 
2000 feet above the sea, which form a wooded background for — 
what is now a ghastly waste of dead trees still standing or fallen 
in confused heaps; and forming in many places, as one approaches 
the limits of the living forest, an almost impenetrable barrier. 
Nearer the shore the dead trees have been largely cleared 
away, and the forest has given place to a firm turf which has taken 
possession in the vicinity of the town, and is grazed by divers 
domestic quadrupeds, so that there is no chance for reforestation. 
Over this area are scattered stunted specimens of the so-called 
varieties bicrenata and uliginosa of Nothofagus antarctica, some 
larger trees of the latter persisting in thin groves near the shore; 
while everywhere are clumps of ‘‘califate” bushes (Berberis buxi- 
folia), associated with a flora of low annuals and perennials, which, 
though not very varied as to species and genera, is yet of the 
greatest interest to one unacquainted with its features. 
The fungi occurring in connection with this coastal region are, 
like the flowering plants, for the most part different from those of 
_ the beech forest, and are more numerous than might have been 
expected, including a variety of striking forms. Among these 
the hexenbesen of the superb Aecidium magellanicum, to which it 
is my purpose to refer in a future note, are everywhere conspicuous 
on the califate, which harbors also several other rusts. Familiar 
forms are not altogether wanting, and Psalliota campestris grows 
in profusion over the turfy area, as well as a large puff ball which 
I took to be Lycoperdon coelatum. Coprinus comatus and C. 
atramentarius, entirely typical in appearance, were also occasion- 
ally seen about the town, and all of these formed a most welcome 
addition to the canned diet which prevails in these latitudes. 
In order to reach the living forest where most of my collecting 
was done, it was necessary to traverse the coastal region above 
described: and this is most readily accomplished by following a 
narrow-gauge railroad which skirts the bed of the Rio de las Minas, 
traversing a portion of the deep gorge cut through the hills by 
this small stream, which, flowing from the west, empties into the 
Strait, after passing through the northern portion of the town. Even 
this broad ravine, which one enters somewhat abruptly after a 
tiresome walk of several miles against the biting wind which blows 
