434 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



for some distance along the beach at the foot of some soft 

 sandstone cliffs, varying from thirty to sixty feet in height, 

 and abounding in magnificent specimens of Gunnera Chilensis, 

 and the fine Calceolaria obtained at Ancud. Several plants 

 of the latter attained a height of upwards of three feet, and 

 were profusely covered with the large yellow blossoms. Near 

 the edge of the cliffs were some fine low trees of Embothrium 

 coccineum, glowing with the scarlet flowers, about which 

 numbers of humming-birds were flying. On leaving the 

 beach I followed for some distance a narrow path which led 

 into a thick wood, where I found the Luzuriaga obtained at 

 Ancud in wonderful profusion, clothing the stems of the trees, 

 its masses of delicate fragrant white flowers and orange 

 berries producing a most beautiful effect. At the edge of the 

 woods I met with two species of Solarium not previously 

 obtained, one forming a sort of climber, and the other a stout 

 shrub. Chimangos and carranchas were among the few birds 

 observed, a fine specimen of one of the latter being shot by 

 one of the officers, and I made a single new zoological capture, 

 in tlie shape of a curious little Batrachian, the BMnoderraa 

 Darwinii, with its skin blotched with black and white, and 

 possessing a ]3rojecting dermal appendage on its muzzle. 



The morning of the following day was showery. We were 

 besieged at an early hour by nearly the entire population of 

 the island, who came off with the view of selling potatoes, 

 eggs, fowls, and small sheep. Many of them possessed 

 thoroughly Indian features, and I was informed that there 

 were a considerable number of them who were pure Indians, 

 speaking the Huilliche language. In the afternoon Dr. Camp- 

 bell and I landed, and took a long walk, in the course of 

 which we met a man named Burns, who afterwards acted as 

 our pilot through the Chonos Archipelago, as well as many of 



