PREFACE. vil POSTSCRIPT. I TAKE the opportunity of a new edition of my Journal to correct a few errors. At page 107 I have stated that the majority of the shells which were embedded with the extinct mammals at Punta Alta, in Bahia Blanca, were still living species. These shells have since been examined (see 'Geological Observations in South America,' p. 83) by M. Alcide d'Orbigny, and he pronounces them all to be recent. M. Aug. Bravard has lately described, in a Spanish work ('Observaciones Geologicas,' 1857), this district, and he believes that the bones of the extinct mammals were washed out of the underlying Pampean deposit, and subsequently became embedded with the still existing shells; but I am not convinced by his remarks. M. Bravard believes that the whole enormous Pampean deposit is a sub-aërial formation, like sand-dunes: this seems to me to be an untenable doctrine. At page 455 I give a list of the birds inhabiting the Galapagos Archipelago. The progress of research has shown that some of these birds, which were then thought to be confined to the islands, occur on the American continent. The eminent ornithologist, Mr. Sclater, informs me that this is the case with the Strix punctatissima and Pyrocephalus nanus; and probably with the Otus galapagoensis and Zenaida galapagoensis: so that the number of endemic birds is reduced to twenty-three, or probably to twentyone. Mr. Sclater thinks that one or two of these endemic forms should be ranked rather as varieties than species, which always seemed to me probable. The snake mentioned at page 458, as being, on the authority of M. Bibron, the same with a Chilian species, is stated by Dr. Günter (Zoolog. Soc., Jan. 24th, 1859) to be a peculiar species, not known to inhabit any other country. Feb. 1st, 1860. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Porto Praya-Ribeira Grande-Atmospheric Dust with Infusoria- CHAPTER II. Rio de Janeiro-Excursion north of Cape Frio-Great Evaporation CHAPTER III. Monte Video-Maldonado-Excursion to R. Polanco-Lazo and CHAPTER IV. Rio Negro-Estancias attacked by the Indians-Salt Lakes-Flam- CHAPTER V. Bahia Blanca-Geology-Numerous gigantic extinct Quadrupeds- CHAPTER VI. Set out for Buenos Ayres-Rio Sauce-Sierra Ventana-Third PAGE 13 33 56 84 105 . 134 CHAPTER VII. Excursion to St. Fé-Thistle-Beds-Habits of the Bizcacha-Little CHAPTER VIII. Excursion to Colonia del Sacramiento-Value of an Estancia- CHAPTER IX. Santa Cruz-Expedition up the River-Indians-Immense Streams CHAPTER X. Tierra del Fuego, first arrival-Good Success Bay-An Account of PAGE 153 176 217 249 CHAPTER XI. Strait of Magellan-Port Famine-Ascent of Mount Tarn-Forests 281 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XII. Valparaiso-Excursion to the Foot of the Andes-Structure of the CHAPTER XIII. Chiloe-General Aspect--Boat Excursion-Native Indians-Castro CHAPTER XIV. San Carlos, Chiloe-Osorno in eruption, contemporaneously with CHAPTER XV. Valparaiso-Portillo Pass-Sagacity of Mules-Mountain Torrents CHAPTER XVI. Coast-road to Coquimbo-Great Loads carried by the Miners— xi PAGE 306 330 352 378 406 |