THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 331 



character than that of the Channels. The tide was high when 

 we went on shore, and close to the edge of the water extended 

 a thick hedge of shrubs, from twelve to fourteen feet high, 

 composed of Fuchsias and Escallonias {E. macranthci), both in 

 full flower, together with an arboreous grass, the Clmsquea 

 Quila, which recalled the clumps of bamboos with which we 

 were so familiar at Kio. A little farther from the beach a 

 variety of species of Myrtacece prevailed, some of them covered 

 with snow-white blossoms; and a tall shrub or low tree 

 {Citharexylon cyanocarpum), with spiny branches clothed 

 with small glossy dark-green veined leaves, and bearing 

 clusters of splendid bluish-purple berries, was also very 

 abundant. Several species of Bromeliacece also occurred, com- 

 municating a semi-tropical aspect to the scene, and one of these 

 {Bromdia hicolor) presented a most striking appearance with 

 its large tufts of long radiating spiny-edged leaves, the outer 

 of which are dark green, while the inner are brilliant red, as 

 if they had been dipped in arterial blood, surrounding a dense 

 mass of flowers, varying from bluish-white to turquoise blue. 

 The large rhubarb-like leaves (sometimes more than a yard in 

 diameter) and dense spikes of small orange-red fruits of the 

 "panke" {Gunner a Chilensis) speedily attracted our attention ; 

 and we collected many other plants which were new to us, in- 

 cluding Nertera dejpressa, which covered the surface of the damp 

 ground in many spots with its prostrate creeping stems andbright 

 red berries ; and a variety of ferns, such as the little Asplenium 

 trilobum, the wedge-shaped fronds of which were plentiful on 

 the tree-trunks ; a Goniophlehium, also a tree-parasite with large 

 oblong brilliant orange sori, and an Asplenmm (A. oUusatum), 

 with very stout pinnate coriaceous fronds, which grew in clefts 

 on the rocks close to the sea. Numbers of a little humming- 

 bird {Trochilus forficatus) were flying about the flowers, and 



