Oct. 1S35. 



NUMBEIt OF REPTILES, 



for the number of species of reptiles^ as for that of indi- 

 viduals ; when we remember the well-beaten paths made by 

 the many hundred great tortoises — the warrens of the ter- 

 restrial Amblyrhyncus — and the groups of the aquatic species 

 basking on the coast-rocks — we must admit that there is no 

 other quarter of the worlds where this order replaces the her- 

 bivorous mammalia in so extraordinary a manner. It is 

 worthy of observation by the geologist (who will probably 

 refer back in his mind to the secondary periods^ when the 

 Saurians were developed with dimensions^ which at the 

 present day can be compared only to the cetaceous mam- 

 malia) , that this archipelago^ instead of possessing a humid 

 climate and rank vegetation^ cannot be considered otherwise 

 than extremely arid^ and for an equatorial region^ remarkably 

 temperate. 



To finish with the zoology : I took great pains in collecting 

 the insects, but I was surprised to find> even in the high and 

 damp region, how exceedingly few they were in number. 

 The forests of Tierra del Fuego are certainly much more 

 barren ; but with that exception I never collected in so poor 

 a country. In the lower and sterile land I took seven species 

 of Heteromera, and a few other insects; but in the fine 

 thriving woods towards the centre of the islands, although 

 I perseveringly swept under the bushes during all kinds of 

 weather, I obtained only a few minute Diptera and Hymen- 

 optera. Owing to this scarcity of insects, nearly all the 

 birds live in the lower country ; and the part which any one 

 would have thought much the most favourable for them, is 

 frequented only by a few of the small tyrant-flycatchers. I 

 do not believe a single bird, excepting the water-rail, is con- 

 fined to the damp region. Mr. Waterhouse informs me that 

 nearly all the insects belong to European forms, and that 

 they do not by any means possess an equatorial character. 

 I did not take a single one of large size, or of bright colours. 

 This last observation applies equally to the birds and 

 flowers. It is worthy of remark, that the only land-bird 

 with bright colours, is that species of tyrant-flycatcher, which 



