412 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



over one, and a carnivorous animal of appalling aspect, per- 

 haps intended as a representation of a jaguar, over another. 

 After following for some distance the course of this valley, 

 which appeared much more fertile than that of the Eio Hor- 

 tado, we crossed over a low singularly narrow ridge into the 

 large and beautiful valley of the Limaree, which I was in- 

 formed was almost entirely in the hands of one proprietor, 

 who, by judicious speculations, had attained to great wealth. 

 Here I observed many specimens of two birds which I had 

 not noticed in the immediate neighbourhood of Coquimbo — 

 namely, the Turco {PteroptocTios megapodius), a very odd-look- 

 ing creature, somewhat like a gigantic wi'en, which hops about, 

 cocking up its tail, and giving utterance to a variety of strange 

 noises, and a kind of starling (Agelaitcs thilius) with bluish- 

 black plumage and a yellowish-white patch on the shoulder. 

 We reached the farm of Torre (so named from two curious 

 monuments, believed to be of Indian origin, situated upon it) 

 soon after noon, and experienced a most hospitable reception 

 from the owner, Senor Lucas Yaldivia, a brother-in-law of 

 Sefior Sasso's, and a fine-looking man, with very dark eyes 

 and long black hair and beard. While breakfast was being 

 prepared, we went over the garden and large vineyard ; and 

 thereafter we strolled about for some time inspecting the 

 live stock. We then remounted our horses, and bidding 

 farewell to Sefior Sasso, who returned to his own home, 

 rode on to visit the celebrated Pique mine at Tamaya. The 

 greater part of our route lay along an extraordinary zigzag 

 path winding up the side of a very steep hill, from the 

 summit of which we gained a commanding view of the 

 Limaree valley. We then descended the other side of this 

 hill for some way, keeping not far from the marvellous ser- 

 pentine line of the railway, which conducts the copper from 



