312 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



in all directions, so as to divide them into a number of angular 

 spaces. A single specimen of another plant, the Tetroncium 

 Magellanicuniy afterwards found in many other localities, was 

 procured on this occasion. The evidences of animal life 

 were scanty in the extreme. Among the few birds observed 

 were examples of the common duck of the Strait, a hawk, a 

 snipe, and a bluish-black bird, which appeared to be a coot 

 or water-rail. On the beach I picked up a few dead shells, 

 including a Volute, and some specimens of Apollon Kingii 

 and Chione antiqua. 



We left the shore between five and six p.m. to return to 

 the ship, observing on the way a Fuegian canoe emerging 

 from a creek not far off, which, shortly after we got on board, 

 came alongside. It contained thirteen inmates, including 

 men, women, and children, chattering, grinning, and shouting 

 ''tabac." Their clothing was of seal or otter skins, sewn 

 together so as to form cloaks worn with the hair innermost, 

 reaching from the shoulders half-way down the thighs, and 

 gathered in at the shoulders and lower part of the loins. 

 They stooped very much, and in general had very protu- 

 berant abdomens, and the breasts of the women hung down 

 in a remarkable manner. Their hair was cut short on the 

 crown of their heads, but elsewhere was long and lank ; and 

 while they appeared to have no traces of whiskers, a few 

 black bristles were to be seen on their chins and upper lips. 

 The eyes were dark, the sclerotic had a decidedly yellow tint, 

 and the conjunctiva of most of the adults was very red and 

 inflamed- looking, the result of the smoke. Their teeth were 

 not by any means so good as those of the Patagonians. As 

 usual they possessed a smouldering fire of green wood in the 

 bottom of the canoe, on a bed of clay. They did not appear 

 to be at all suspicious of us, and on our signing to them to 



