172 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



shelter to the wigwams of the Fuegian Indians, and its flowers 

 are eagerly sought after by a little humming-bird which 

 extends as far south as these cold regions. After a short 

 time spent on this island, we crossed from it to the main- 

 land on a gravelly peninsula, uncovered save at high tide. 

 Here I picked up some dead shells of a large species of 

 Fissurella, and I also found a Lichina growing plentifully on 

 the stones. We then skirted along the edge of the thick 

 woods which encircle Port Gallant, separating in various 

 directions as inclination led us ; and, despite the heavy 

 rain which set in after a time, I passed some delightful hours 

 in the pursuit of my avocations. The mountain scenery was 

 of a character ineffaceable from the memory. Standing at 

 the water's edge, and directing one's gaze gradually upwards, 

 there was to be observed, first a series of densely wooded, 

 nearly perpendicular slopes ; next an almost infinite succes- 

 sion of gray precipices of gneiss and granite, with a multi- 

 tude of foaming cascades pouring down their fissures ; then 

 vast tracks of spotless snow ; and finally black jagged peaks, 

 half concealed by the clouds. Drake certainly did not 

 exaggerate, when, in the course of his account of those 

 regions, he observes — 



" The land on both sides is very huge and mountainous ; the lower 

 Mountaines whereof, although they may be monstrous and wonderful to 

 look upon for their height, yet there are others which in height 

 exceede them in a strange manner, reaching themselves above their 

 fellowes so high, that betweene them did appear three Regions of 

 Clouds." 



I had a very interesting but most laborious walk through 

 the woods, which were soaking wet, as indeed the entire sur- 

 face of the land in the western part of the Strait, without 

 exaggeration, may be stated to be. N"owhere was there a 



