THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 137 



while, in those examined by me, caterpillars appeared to have 

 been the principal source of aliment. On carefully examining 

 the respiratory organs of an individual shot in January 1869, 

 I found that the portion of the trachea below the insertion 

 of the sterno-tracheal muscles, though presenting no striking 

 peculiarity of form, had the rings anchylosed so as to form 

 an immovable tube, and this no doubt serves to modify the 

 voice. 



In the dredge I obtained a few Molluscs and Crustacea, 

 an apparently undescribed Amphipod of the genus Iphimedia 

 among the latter. We left Elizabeth Island early next 

 morning, leaving behind us two officers, with their boats' 

 crews (who, it had been settled, were to remain in the Strait 

 engaged in surveying work, during a trip to the Falkland 

 Islands, which we were necessitated shortly to make for the 

 purpose of procuring supplies of coal and provisions), and 

 reached the Chilian settlement of Sandy Point before 

 breakfast, finding, to our great satisfaction, that letters from 

 England were awaiting us, which had been left a month 

 before by an American ship, the " Pensacola," on her 

 way through the Strait. Early in the forenoon I landed 

 with some of the officers, and had a pleasant walk. The 

 greater number of the plants had passed out of bloom, but a 

 pretty purple-flowered Gentiana, which I did not observe on 

 our first visit, was very plentifid on the plains. I also 

 found a white-fiowered Ranunculus, very similar to K 

 aqitatilis, in the water of a small stream, and a large Carex 

 in a damp place at the edge of the woods, together with 

 several mosses, and a Marchantia, to aU appearance not 

 distinct from the M. polymorplia so common in damp places 

 in Great Britain. A considerable number of a species of teal 

 were shot by my companions, as well as a single specimen 



