P. 63.
[6] The flies which frequently accompany a ship for some days
on its passage from harbour to harbour, wandering from the
vessel, are soon lost, and all disappear.
[7] Mr. Blackwall, in his Researches in Zoology, has many
excellent observations on the habits of spiders.
[8] An abstract is given in No. IV. of the Magazine of Zoology
and Botany.
[9] I found here a species of cactus, described by Professor
Henslow, under the name of Opuntia Darwinii (Magazine of
Zoology and Botany, vol. i. p. 466), which was remarkable
for the irritability of the stamens, when I inserted either a
piece of stick or the end of my finger in the flower. The
segments of the perianth also closed on the pistil, but more
slowly than the stamens. Plants of this family, generally
considered as tropical, occur in North America (Lewis and
Clarke's Travels, p. 221), in the same high latitude as here,
namely, in both cases, in 47 degs.
[10] These insects were not uncommon beneath stones. I found
one cannibal scorpion quietly devouring another.
[11] Shelley, Lines on Mt. Blanc.
[12] I have lately heard that Capt. Sulivan, R.N., has found
numerous fossil bones, embedded in regular strata, on the banks
of the R. Gallegos, in lat. 51 degs. 4'. Some of the bones
are large; others are small, and appear to have belonged to
an armadillo. This is a most interesting and important
discovery.
[13] See the excellent remarks on this subject by Mr. Lyell,
in his Principles of Geology.
CHAPTER IX
SANTA CRUZ, PATAGONIA, AND THE FALKLAND ISLANDS
Santa Cruz - Expedition up the River - Indians - Immense
Streams of Basaltic Lava - Fragments not transported by the
River - Excavations of the Valley - Condor, Habits of -
Cordillera - Erratic Boulders of great size - Indian Relics -
Return to the Ship - Falkland Islands - Wild Horses, Cattle,
Rabbits - Wolf-like Fox - Fire made of Bones - Manner of
Hunting Wild Cattle - Geology - Streams of Stones - Scenes
of Violence - Penguins - Geese - Eggs of Doris - Compound
Animals.
APRIL 13, 1834. - The Beagle anchored within the mouth of the
Santa Cruz. This river is situated about sixty miles south of
Port St. Julian. During the last voyage Captain Stokes proceeded
thirty miles up it, but then, from the want of provisions, was
obliged to return. Excepting what was discovered at that time,
scarcely anything was known about this large river. Captain Fitz
Roy now determined to follow its course as far as time would
allow. On the 18th three whale-boats started, carrying three
weeks' provisions; and the party consisted of twenty-five
souls - a force which would have been sufficient to have
defied a host of Indians. With a strong flood-tide and a fine
day we made a good run, soon drank some of the fresh water,
and were at night nearly above the tidal influence.
The river here assumed a size and appearance which, even at
the highest point we ultimately reached, was scarcely
diminished.
![The Voyage Of The Beagle By Charles Darwin
-
[5] Lyell's Principles of Geology, vol. iii. p. 63.
[6] The flies which frequently accompany a ship for some days - Page 141](../images/travel.jpg)
