This certainly is the true explanation, for I found numerous shells of existing species on these terraces.

Five narrow, gently sloping, fringe-like terraces rise one behind the other, and where best developed are formed of shingle: they front the bay, and sweep up both sides of the valley.

At Guasco, north of Coquimbo, the phenomenon is displayed on a much grander scale, so as to strike with surprise even some of the inhabitants.

The terraces are there much broader, and may be called plains, in some parts there are six of them, but generally only five; they run up the valley for thirty-seven miles from the coast.

These step-formed terraces or fringes closely resemble those in the valley of S.Cruz, and, except in being on a smaller scale, those great ones along the whole coast-line of Patagonia.