82 SPENCER’S JOURNAL 
size of bullfinch, dull yellow-green (brightest on breast, 
darkest on back) on head, back, breast, and tail. Blue-grey 
on back of neck, shoulders, and rump. A colony of about 
fifteen in willow trees close to house, along with a dozen 
blackbirds and a few white-breasted smaller birds. Constant 
hard little chirp like hitting a short sharp knock on a stone. 
Dutschick (or Dechic) kashun: Yaghan name for small 
white-breasted bird with gold line along each side of head. 
Very common everywhere in the forest. Smaller than Push - 
ush (Dush-usJi). 
Ken told me story of boiling lake high up on Hoste Island 
behind the tall snow peak on Dumas Peninsula seen from 
Rio Douglas. Too hot to hold hand in and very dangerous 
to go near. Also there is a special cove on Tekenika Bay 
with a cave in which lives a dangerous spirit. No Yaghan 
dare stay there at night. George told Ken, who had done so, 
that he was lucky to have got out alive. Strange noises are 
always to be heard there at night time. Those heard by Ken 
were made by wind amongst the rocks. 
June 7, Friday (from B ). Darwin, on authority of Jemmy 
Button, says that foxes and guanacos, which occur on 
Navarin, are not found on Hoste Island [though the channel 
separating them is only about half a mile wide]. Voyage of 
the ‘ Beagle 1 , ed. xii, p. 234 [cap. xi]. Foxes, red-haired, are 
abundant on Hoste Island, but not guanacos. 
become . . . tame, and will fly into the kitchen when he is there alone. The small 
Indian boy (Juan), whose favourite sport was killing these beautiful birds with 
a stone and sling, now tiptoes past the willow trees. His killing instincts are now 
vented instead on the cats. For this action he is usually rewarded with sweets and 
a smile of approval, and although the subtle distinction rather mystifies Juan, he 
very much appreciates the sweets, and seeing more and more birds appearing every 
day to be fed. 
July 15th. Ample proof of their tameness was seen later on returning to Rio 
Douglas, Isle Navarin, for our belongings. As a surprise for the Professor, Claud 
Williams had continued feeding the birds, and had six blackbirds contentedly 
housed awaiting the arrival of the Professor. 
