458 NATURAL HISTOEY OF 



and after pulling as far up the St. Nicolas river as the depth 

 would permit of — namely, about a quarter of a mile — we 

 spent some time cruising about the bay, where a specimen 

 of grebe {Fodiceps major), not uncommon in the Strait, but of 

 which no examples had been as yet procured, was shot. The 

 survey of the bay being completed by the afternoon, we 

 weighed and went on to Port Famine. 



On the 5th we remained at our anchorage during the first 

 half of the day. In the morning the dredge yielded a magni- 

 ficent specimen of the Waldheimia venosa, and after breakfast a 

 party of us landed and spent some hours roaming about in 

 quest of game and specimens. It was a very pleasant sunny 

 forenoon, and I found a number of plants in flower on the 

 open ground near the beach, including Calceolarias, Vetches, 

 a yellow-flowered Orchid, Cerastium arvense, etc. ; while the 

 beautiful Codonorchis Lessonii abounded in some spots in the 

 woods, and Hippuris, and a variety of sedges, were common in 

 the marshes. In the afternoon we got under way, and went 

 on to Sandy Point, which we had not visited for the last 

 eight months. Here we found our provision-brig lying at 

 anchor, and soon after our arrival Sefior Viel came on board, 

 bringing with him some letters left for us a short time pre- 

 viously by a passing vessel. On landing, on the following 

 afternoon, we met our old friend the Patagonian chief, Caci- 

 miero Biwa, in a state of inebriation, and learned that a 

 large party of his tribe was expected before long. After in- 

 specting the state of the vegetables in the garden of the 

 Intendente, and making suitable remarks thereupon. Dr. 

 Campbell and I set out on a walk over the open ground, 

 rejoicing in being able to dispense with our sea-boots, which 

 had been our necessary companions for the last two months. 

 It was a lovely bright afternoon, and as we returned along 



