428 NATUEAL HISTORY OF 



strawberry, an orange -flowered Linum, two species of 

 GhloTcea, a Lihertia (Z. ixioides ?), etc. I stopped at noon at 

 a rancho, where I saw a girl engaged in the preparation of 

 cheese, squeezing the consolidated curd through her hands, 

 which were not over clean, into a wooden mould. In the 

 course of the afternoon I descended to the beach to explore 

 the rocks, some of which were very bold and striking, formed 

 of sandstone of various degrees of hardness, and remarkably 

 furrowed and hollowed out by the action of the waves. On 

 the sides of a deep cleft a number of fish of the genus 

 Gohiesox were clinging to the rocks, between four and five 

 feet above the level of the water, by means of a strong sub- 

 thoracic sucker ; but I failed in obtaining specimens of them, 

 as they all let go their hold and dropped into the water on 

 my approach. Among the marine animals observed were — 

 Fissurellw, ConcJiolepades, and Patellw, many large specimens 

 of Amyxa niger, and some bright purple encrusting sponges. 

 Numerous gulls and terns were flying about, and a large 

 flock of pelicans lighted on a reef of rocks at no great 

 distance from me. Some of the officers had taken their guns 

 on shore with them, and some pigeons, as well as a solitary 

 partridge (Nothura), were shot, and several spur-winged 

 plovers ( Vanellus Cayanus) and woodpeckers {Colaptes pitius) 

 seen. 



The 10th was also fine, but as the wind still continued 

 adverse. Captain Mayne resolved on remaining for another 

 day where we were. Before breakfast, an " Englishman," 

 who, we had been informed by some Chilians, was living on 

 the coast of the bay, a weather-beaten, rather rough-looking 

 large-made man, of between fifty and sixty, came on board, and 

 informed us that there were some remarkable ancient tumuli 

 on a piece of land belonging to him, offering to show them to 



