404 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



on the rocks, and the pelicans flew off before any could be 

 procured. On another rock (Pelican Eock of the chart) a 

 group of beautiful terns (Anous inca), with dark plumage, 

 and a long white feather on each ear-covert, were sitting, 

 and a couple of specimens of these were shot. We also 

 obtained a specimen of a huge starfish {Heliaster helianthus), 

 with thirty-eight rays, bearing a general resemblance to the 

 British Solaster papposa. Later in the day we pulled far 

 into the bay, which was alive with shoals of large and small 

 fish, on which terns {Sterna cassini) and black petrels (Nectris 

 amaurosa) were feeding, darting about in pursuit, and filling 

 the air with their discordant cries. Now and then a pelican 

 would sail past, its great bill giving it a most peculiar 

 aspect, or a flock of gannets would suddenly appear not far 

 from us, and dive into the water simultaneously after their 

 prey. Several scissor-bills were also seen skimming along 

 the placid surface of the bay, and one fine specimen was 

 shot. We occupied some time in dredging, and brought up 

 from the fine sandy bottom numbers of beautiful specimens 

 of Oliva Peruviana and Chorus xanthostoma. 



The neck of land already mentioned as separating the 

 two bays of Coquimbo and Herradura was a favourite 

 locality for an afternoon's ramble at this time. The yellow 

 granitic rocks of which it is composed are most singularly 

 disrupted, immense blocks of many tons' weight having been 

 to all appearance violently torn from their original resting- 

 place, and piled upon each other in the most picturesque 

 confusion. Among them I met with several plants that did 

 not occur elsewhere, among which was a species of a myrtle, 

 and a plant whose name I forget, with the most deliciously 

 fragrant flowers, recalling the odour of jasmine. On turning 

 over the stones we were certain to meet with small scorpions. 



