THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 135 



when we arose, shortly after 5 A.M., it was still raining slightly, 

 but soon after cleared up ; and the clouds breaking, disclosed a 

 delicate pale green sky. By and by the sun shone out brightly, 

 and we determined to avail ourselves of this opportunity to re- 

 turn to the ship. We accordingly started as soon as our gear 

 was stowed in the boat, and reached the vessel about 9 a.m., 

 soon after receiving a practical proof that we had taken a 

 prudent step, as the wind again arose before we had been two 

 hours on board. After the return of another of the boats we 

 got under way, and attempted to steam on to Gregory Bay ; but 

 the wind by this time had become so strong, that after steam- 

 ing for four hours, we had only accomplished about three 

 miles, and therefore came to an anchor. 



A fresh start was made early next morning, but little way 

 gained, as the wind arose as usual, and kept us back. It 

 blew hard throughout the whole of the 2d of February, and 

 it was only on the morning of the 3d that we got fairly into 

 Gregory Bay, and the two other boats were able to join us. 

 One of the officers, Mr. Gray, who took a special interest in 

 collecting marine animals, and was in consequence a most 

 valuable ally, brought me some very fine specimens of a large 

 Chiton {C, setiger) and a live individual of a bright green 

 spider, apparently a species of Epeira, with its nest ; while 

 from another I received a fine specimen of the large owl {Bubo 

 Magellanicm), first seen at Sandy Point. In skinning this 

 bird on the following day (which was warm, bright, and calm, 

 but with a thick fog, which for some time enveloped the 

 ship), I was much struck with the exceeding development 

 of air-cells in the back part of the cranium, and the extreme 

 thinness of the outer and inner tables of the bone. 



The morning of the 5th was fine, with but little wind, and 

 the adjacent saddle -backed Gregory Eange appeared very 



