330 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



slaughtered by the ship's company for the sake of certain of 

 their wing-bones (the radii) which are held in much esteem 

 for pipe-stems. The largest captured measured ten feet nine 

 inches in expanse of wing, while that which I preserved was 

 somewhat smaller. Attached to the leg and pubic bone 

 I found a well-defined superficial muscle, which does not 

 exist in most of the swimming birds examined by me. Some 

 beautiful Acalephse were observed in the water close to us, and 

 we put over the towing-net to endeavour to secure specimens, 

 but were obliged to haul it in again almost immediately, as 

 the albatrosses made an assault on it, and nearly tore it to 

 pieces. 



Early on the morning of the 28th land was sighted, and about 

 half-an-hour before noon we entered the port of San Carlos de 

 Ancud, situated at the northern extremity of the island of Chiloe. 

 We anchored at first off the town of Ancud, but in conse- 

 quence of information received by Captain Mayne from the 

 governor, to the effect that the anchorage was not accounted 

 safe during the prevalence of certain winds, we removed some 

 hours later to Punta Arenas, a much more sheltered position, 

 about two miles further into the bay. The aspect of the 

 surrounding country, as seen on that fine day, the first we were 

 informed which the inhabitants of Chiloe had experienced 

 during this season, was very attractive, there being a most agree- 

 able mixture of woods and thickets, with cleared and cultivated 

 patches here and there, surrounding dwellings, often built of 

 a circular form, with high concavely-curved roofs, with pro- 

 jecting eaves, and which reminded one of the officers of 

 houses seen by him in Japan. A party of us landed late in 

 the afternoon, spending a couple of hours roaming about in 

 the neighbourhood ; and I was much delighted with the luxuri- 

 ance of the vegetation, which was much more varied in its 



