GLACIERS IX OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. \\\ 



or 450 miles, of a harbor, where three species of oliva, a voluta, 



and a terebra are the commonest shells, within less than 9° 

 from where palms grow, within 4|° of a region where the 

 jaguar and puma range over the plains, less than 1\° from 

 arborescent grasses, and (looking to the westward in the same 

 hemisphere) less than 2° from orchidaceous parasites, . and 

 within a single degree of tree-ferns ! * 



Mr. Darwin's experience was so similar to that of those 

 who visit Alaska ('see Chapter III, page 50), that another 

 extract will prove especially instructive by way of compari- 

 son. Speaking of the Straits of Magellan, he says : 



The lofty mountains on the north side compose the granitic 

 axis, or backbone of the country, and boldly rise to a height 

 of between 3,000 and 4,000 feet, with one peak above 6,000 

 feet. They are covered by a wide mantle of perpetual snow, 

 and numerous cascades pour their waters, through the woods, 

 iuto the narrow channel below. In many parts, magnificent 

 glaciers extend from the mountain-side to the w r ater's edge. 

 It is scarcely possible to imagine anything more beautiful than 

 the beryl-like blue of these glaciers, and especially as contrasted 

 with the dead white of the upper expanse of snow. The frag- 

 ments which had fallen from the glacier into the water were 

 floating away, and the channel, with its icebergs, presented for 

 the space of a mile a miniature likeness of the Polar Sea. The 

 boats being hauled on shore at our dinner-hour, we were ad- 

 miring from the distance of half a mile a perpendicular cliff 

 of ice, and were wishing that some more fragments would fall. 

 At last down came a mass with a roaring noise, and imme- 

 diately we saw the smooth outline of a wave traveling toward 

 us. The men ran down as quickly as they could to the boats ; 

 for the chance of their being dashed to pieces was evident. 

 One of the seamen just caught hold of the bows as the curling 

 breaker reached it. He was knocked over and over, but not 

 hurt ; and the boats, though thrice lifted on high and let fall 

 again, received no damage. This was most fortunate for us, 

 for we were a hundred miles distant from the ship, and we 



"Voyage -of the Beagle," edition of 1872, pp. 245-247. 



