212 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



plumage, several small flocks of which had been noticed by 

 him. This day H.M.S. "Spiteful," despatched from Monte 

 Video with supplies of coal and provision for our behoof, was 

 due, but she did not make her appearance. The weather had 

 been very fine for the last few days, so as to be eminently 

 fitted for surveying operations, which made us regret aU the 

 more that our coal was- getting so low as to allow of very little 

 expenditure of it in moving from place to place. I had a 

 pleasant walk on the afternoon of the 2d, without, however, 

 noting anything of great importance. I found a species of 

 Sisymbrium {S. Sophia T) growing very plentifully on low 

 ground near the sea, but nearly out of flower ; and one of the 

 officers shot a specimen of a small species of sandpiper, the 

 uEgialitis Falklandica. We remained stationary in Gregory 

 Bay until the 6th, when we left for Sandy Point to obtain a 

 load of wood for fuel, as there was no appearance of the miss- 

 ing vessel ; and we began to realise that if she did not turn up 

 soon, a second excursion to the Falkland Islands, a result by 

 no means to be desired, would be necessary. On our southerly 

 way we noticed a party of Patagonians riding along the beach 

 not far from Cape Negro. We did not reach our destination 

 until some hours after dark, when a rocket was sent up to 

 indicate our approach to the inhabitants of the settlement, 

 who in return lighted large fires not far from the beach. 



Early on the following day a number of us landed, dis- 

 persing in various directions — one of the party, along with 

 myself, taking a long walk through the woods in search of 

 fungi. The trees had now assumed brilliant autumnal tints, 

 and the vivid golden yellow of the foliage of some contrasted 

 finely with the rich russet colouring of others. It was a per- 

 fectly still, somewhat cloudy day, with the leaves quietly 

 dropping down from the boughs, and adding to the carpeting 



