340 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



as I found several specimens of its remarkable horny egg 

 lying on the sandy beach near our anchorage. This pro- 

 tective structure bears a general resemblance in texture and 

 appearance to the eggs of the rays and sharks, but differs 

 from them considerably in form. It is of a dark greenish- 

 black colour, and in general measures from eight to nine, 

 or even ten, inches in length, by about three in breadth. It 

 consists of a central, somewhat spindle-shaped convex area 

 (between the horny walls of which the young fish lies), sur- 

 rounded by a broad plicated margin, which is fringed at the 

 edge, and covered on the under surface with fine light brown- 

 ish-yellow hairs. The accompanying sketch will enable the 

 reader to realise its curious appearance. 



I was detained on board during the greater part of the 

 following day, as I had a number of specimens to consign to 

 my spirit-jars ; but towards the close of the afternoon I landed, 

 and had a short walk along the beach, finding many specimens 

 of the small crab {Trichodadylus granarius) obtained at Halt 

 Bay, under stones, where small streams of fresh water joined 

 the sea. A scissor-bill was again seen, but was unfortunately 

 not within range. The 8th, 9th, and 10th were in no way 

 eventful. Having taken in our stores, and there being nothing 

 else to detain us, we left the port of San Carlos on the morning 

 of the 11th, to return to our work ; but a southerly wind soon 

 after sprang up, and freshened with such rapidity that about 

 two P.M. we altered our course, and returned to Ancud, 

 anchoring off the town at about six p.m. There was a very 

 fine sunset that evening, the most brilliant we had seen for a 

 long time past — the sky in these humid regions, even when 

 the day has been sunny, becoming in general clouded over 

 before evening. 



