Charadrius virgininus.Borkh.

Oreophilus totanirostris,Jard. & Selb.Illustr. of Orn. iii. pl. 151.

My specimens were obtained at Maldonado and at Valparaiso. At the former, it was common, feeding on the open grassy plains in small flocks, mingled with the icteri and the thrush-likeXolmis variegata. When these birdsrise on the wing, they utter a plaintive cry. Legs “crimson red;” toes leaden colour, with their under surface remarkably soft and fleshy. Iris dark brown.

Charadrius virgininus,Borkh.Act. Acad. Cæs. Leop. Car. Nat. Cur. 1834. xvi. pl. 18.Charadrius marmoratus,Wagl.

Charadrius virgininus,Borkh.Act. Acad. Cæs. Leop. Car. Nat. Cur. 1834. xvi. pl. 18.

Charadrius marmoratus,Wagl.

This representative of the golden plover of Europe and North America, is common on the banks of the Plata in large and small flocks. It is found also, according to Meyer, in Chile.

Tringa Urvillii,Garnot, Ann. Ic. Nat. Jan. 1826.Vanellus cinctus,Less.Voy. de la Coqu. Zool. p. 720. pl. xliii.Squatarola cincta,Jard. & Selby’sIllust. Orn. pl. 110.Charadrius rubecola,Vig.Journ. iv. p. 96.

Tringa Urvillii,Garnot, Ann. Ic. Nat. Jan. 1826.

Vanellus cinctus,Less.Voy. de la Coqu. Zool. p. 720. pl. xliii.

Squatarola cincta,Jard. & Selby’sIllust. Orn. pl. 110.

Charadrius rubecola,Vig.Journ. iv. p. 96.

I obtained specimens of this bird in Tierra del Fuego, where it inhabited both the sea shore and the bare stony summits of the mountains; at the Falkland Islands, where it frequented the upland marshes; and at Chiloe, where I met with large flocks in the fields, not near the coast.

S. vertice corporeque supra fuscis, dorsi parapterique plumis pallidiore marginatis; remigibus primariis nigrescenti fuscis, pogoniis externis albo angustè marginatis rhachibus albis; uropygio caudâque obscurè fuscis, remigibus externis albo latè marginatis et terminatis; fronte, genis, gulâ, abdomine postico, caudæeque tegminibus inferioribus flavescenti albis, colli pectorisque lateribus fuscis, colli plumis fusco pallido terminatis; pedibus nigris.

Long. tot. 8 unc.;alæ, 5⅝;caudæ, 3;tarsi, 1⅜;rostri, ⅞.

Crown of the head, all the upper surface brown, the feathers of the back and the scapularies, margined with paler; primaries blackish brown, finely edged on their inner margins with white, and with white shafts; rump and tail dark brown, the outer feathers largely margined and tipped with white; forehead and sides of the face sandy white; throat, lower part of the abdomen, and under tail coverts, buffy white; sides of the neck and chest brown; the feathers of the latter tipped with still lighter brown; bill and feet black.

Habitat, Maldonado; inland grassy plains.

This species is most closely allied to the foregoing. I obtained only one specimen, which, on comparison with several of theS. cincta, appears a little larger in all its dimensions, especially in the length of the tarsi. Its back and scapulariesare of a more uniform brown, the feathers being less edged with pale brown. Its feet are black, whereas those ofS. cinctaare brown.

Charadrius Cayanus,Lath.Ind. Orn. 11. 748.

I met with this bird from latitude 30° to 45° S. on both sides of S. America. In La Plata it is called “Teru-tero,” in imitation of its cry; and in Chile, according to Molina, “Theghel.” These birds, which in many respects resemble in habits our peewits (Vanellus cristatus), frequent, generally in pairs, open grassy land, and especially the neighbourhood of lakes. As the peewit takes its name from the sound of its voice, so does the teru-tero. While riding over the grassy plains, one is constantly pursued by these birds, which appear to hate mankind, and I am sure deserve to be hated, for their never-ceasing, unvaried, harsh screams. The stillness of the night is often disturbed by them. To the sportsman they are most annoying, by announcing to every other bird and animal his approach: to the traveller in the country, they may possibly, as Molina says, do good, by warning him of the midnight robber. During the breeding season, they attempt, like our peewits, by feigning to be wounded, to draw away from their nests dogs and other enemies. Their eggs are of a pointed oval form; of a brownish olive colour, thickly spotted with dark brown. Their eggs, like those of the peewit, are esteemed particularly good eating.

Charadrius Azaræ,Temm.pl. col. 184.—— collaris,Vieill.Albatuitui à collier noir,Azara, No. 392.

Charadrius Azaræ,Temm.pl. col. 184.

—— collaris,Vieill.

Albatuitui à collier noir,Azara, No. 392.

My specimens were obtained on the banks of the Plata and at Valparaiso. The specimen from the latter country differs from those procured at the former, in the absence of the black collar on the breast, of the black streak running from the eye to the corner of the mouth; in the plumage of the back and back of head having a lesser tinge of red; and especially in the feet being black, and tarsi blackish, instead of both being orange, as is the case with those killed on the shores of the Plata. I have not, however, thought it desirable to make two species of these birds, not having a larger series of specimens for comparison.

Charadrius bifasciatus,Licht.Vog. Verz. p. 71.—— trifasciatus,Wagl.Syst. Av. sp. 31.

Charadrius bifasciatus,Licht.Vog. Verz. p. 71.

—— trifasciatus,Wagl.Syst. Av. sp. 31.

I procured two specimens of this bird at Bahia Blanca, in Northern Patagonia.

3.Hiaticula semipalmata.G. R. Gray.

Tringa semipalmata,Temm.Charadrius semipalmatus,Caup.Isis. 1825, p. 1375, t. 14.Wagl.Syst. Av. sp. 23.Bonap.Am. Orn. iv. pl. 25, f. 4.

Tringa semipalmata,Temm.

Charadrius semipalmatus,Caup.Isis. 1825, p. 1375, t. 14.Wagl.Syst. Av. sp. 23.

Bonap.Am. Orn. iv. pl. 25, f. 4.

Galapagos Archipelago.

Rio Plata.

Ardea Leuce, Ill.Ardea Egretta,Wils.Am. Orn. pl. 61, f. 4.

Ardea Leuce, Ill.

Ardea Egretta,Wils.Am. Orn. pl. 61, f. 4.

My specimen was procured at Maldonado. I saw it also in Patagonia.

Galapagos Archipelago. Frequents the sea-coast and salt-lagoons. There are no fresh water pools in any of these islands.

Ardea violacea,Linn.Ardea callocephala,Wagl.Syst. Av.

Ardea violacea,Linn.

Ardea callocephala,Wagl.Syst. Av.

Mr. G. R. Gray has thought it advisable to give the following description of this specimen, from the Gallapagos Archipelago. It appears to be a young bird, and is small in all its dimensions.

Upper part blackish grey; each feather marked down the middle with a broad stripe of black, and tinged on the margins with shining bronze brown; beneath the body blueish grey, with the front of the neck, top of the head, and margins of the feathers on the thighs rufous; the sides of the head and throat deep black, the former divided in the middle on each side with a patch of white; the bill black, and feet of a pale reddish colour.

Ardea nycticorax,Wils.(young bird.)

Valparaiso, Chile.

Ibis melanops,Lath.Hist. ix. pl. 150.

This bird frequents the desert gravelly plains of Patagonia, as far south as lat. 48°: in the British Museum there are specimens which Captain Clapperton brought from central Africa; so that this bird has an extraordinarily wide range. It generally lives in pairs, but during part of the year in small flocks. Its cry is very singular and loud: when it is heard at a distance it closely resembles the neighing of the guanaco. I opened the stomach of two specimens, and found in them remains of lizards, cicadæ, and scorpions. It builds in rocky cliffs on thesea shore: egg dirty white, freckled with pale reddish brown; its circumference over longer axis is seven inches. The legs are carmine and scarlet-red: iris scarlet-red.

Tantalus Mexicanus,Ord.Journ. Acad. Phil.Tantalus chalcopterus?Temm.Ibis Falcinellus,Bonap.Am. Orn. iii.

Tantalus Mexicanus,Ord.Journ. Acad. Phil.

Tantalus chalcopterus?Temm.

Ibis Falcinellus,Bonap.Am. Orn. iii.

My specimen was obtained at the Rio Negro: it is very numerous in large flocks on the vast swampy plains between Bahia Blanca and Buenos Ayres. Its flight when soaring is singularly graceful; the whole flock moving in precise concert.

Numenius Hudsonicus,Lath.Ind. Orn. ii. 712.

This curlew is very abundant on the tidal mud-banks of Chiloe. When the flock rises, each bird utters a shrill note.

Numenius brevirostris,Licht.Cat. 75, sp. 774 a.

Buenos Ayres.

Scolopax Hudsonica,Lath.Ind. Orn. ii. 720.

My specimens were obtained from the Falkland Islands and from Chiloe, where it frequented the tidal mud-banks in flocks.

Totanus flavipes,Vieill.Ency. Meth. 1106.Yellow shanks snipe,Penn.Arct. Zool. ii. 468.——Wills.Am. Orn. pl. 58. f. 4.

Totanus flavipes,Vieill.Ency. Meth. 1106.

Yellow shanks snipe,Penn.Arct. Zool. ii. 468.

——Wills.Am. Orn. pl. 58. f. 4.

Monte Video, Rio Plata.

Tringa macroptera,Spix, Av. n. sp. pl. 92.

Monte Video, Rio Plata.

3.Totanus melanoleucos.Licht. et Vieill.

Scolopax melanoleuca,Gmel.Scolopax vociferus,Wils.Am. Orn. pl. 58, f. 5.Chorlito à croupion blanc,Azara, No. 394.Totanus solitarius,Vieill.White-rumped snipe,Lath.

Scolopax melanoleuca,Gmel.

Scolopax vociferus,Wils.Am. Orn. pl. 58, f. 5.

Chorlito à croupion blanc,Azara, No. 394.

Totanus solitarius,Vieill.

White-rumped snipe,Lath.

Maldonado, Rio Plata.

T. corpore supra caudâque fuliginoso-griseis; alis fuscis; gutture albo; pectorehypochondriisque plumbeo-griseis; abdomine medio, caudæ tegminibus inferioribusalbis, illis obscure,bis plane grisescenti fusco fasciatis; rostri rubescenti fusco;pedibus obscurè olivaceo fuscis.

T. corpore supra caudâque fuliginoso-griseis; alis fuscis; gutture albo; pectore

hypochondriisque plumbeo-griseis; abdomine medio, caudæ tegminibus inferioribus

albis, illis obscure,bis plane grisescenti fusco fasciatis; rostri rubescenti fusco;

pedibus obscurè olivaceo fuscis.

Long. tot. 9½ unc.;alæ, 6⅝;caudæ, 3;tarsi, 1¼;rostri, ⅝.

The whole of the upper surface and tail sooty-grey; wings dull brown; throat white; chest and flanks leaden grey; centre of the abdomen and under tail coverts white, the former indistinctly, and the latter distinctly, barred with greyish brown; bill, reddish brown; feet, dark olive brown.

Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago (October).

This species appear quite distinct from any described one.

Himantopus nigricollis,Vieill.Ency. Meth. 340.Recurvirostra himantopus,Wils.Am. Orn. pl. 58. f. 2.

Himantopus nigricollis,Vieill.Ency. Meth. 340.

Recurvirostra himantopus,Wils.Am. Orn. pl. 58. f. 2.

My specimens were obtained from the provinces bordering the Plata. On the great swampy plains and fens which lie between Buenos Ayres and Bahia Blanca, it is very numerous in small, and occasionally, in large flocks. This plover, which appears as if mounted on stilts, has been wrongfully accused of inelegance; when wading about in shallow water, which is its favourite resort, its gait is far from awkward. In a flock it utters a noise, which singularly resembles the cry of a pack of small dogs in full chase: when I travelled across the above mentioned plains, I was more than once startled, when lying awake at night, at the distant sound, and thought the wild Indians were coming.

Tringa rufescens,Vieill., N. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. 34. p. 470.—— Ency. Meth. Orn. p. 1090.—— Gal. des Ois. pl. 238.——Yarrel, Lin. Trans.——Gould; Birds of Europe, pl.

Tringa rufescens,Vieill., N. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. 34. p. 470.

—— Ency. Meth. Orn. p. 1090.

—— Gal. des Ois. pl. 238.

——Yarrel, Lin. Trans.

——Gould; Birds of Europe, pl.

Monte Video, Rio Plata.

1.Pelidna Schinzii.Bonap.

Tringa Schinzii,Brehm. Bonap.Am. Orn. iv. pl. 24. f. 2.Pelidna cinclus, var.Say.

Tringa Schinzii,Brehm. Bonap.Am. Orn. iv. pl. 24. f. 2.

Pelidna cinclus, var.Say.

Flocks of this species were common on the shores of the inland bays in the southern parts of Tierra del Fuego.

Tringa minutilla,Vieill.Ency. Meth. 1089.

Galapagos Archipelago. Both the specimens which I procured here are smaller than the ordinary size of this bird, but do not differ in other respects. Vieillot says it ranges from the Antilles to Canada.

Totanus semicollaris,Vieill., Ency. Meth. p. 1100.Rhynchæa Hilairea,Valenc. Less.Ill. de Zool. pl. 18.Rhynchæa occidentalis,King, Zool. Journ. iv. 94.Le chorlito a demi colliers blanc et noiratre,Azara, No. 409.

Totanus semicollaris,Vieill., Ency. Meth. p. 1100.

Rhynchæa Hilairea,Valenc. Less.Ill. de Zool. pl. 18.

Rhynchæa occidentalis,King, Zool. Journ. iv. 94.

Le chorlito a demi colliers blanc et noiratre,Azara, No. 409.

Monte Video, Rio Plata. Frequents swamps; habits like the Scolopax Gallinago.

Scolopax Paraguai,Vieill.Ency. Meth. p. 1160.—— Brasiliensis,Swains, Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, p. 400.Becassine 1st Espece,Azara.

Scolopax Paraguai,Vieill.Ency. Meth. p. 1160.

—— Brasiliensis,Swains, Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, p. 400.

Becassine 1st Espece,Azara.

Valparaiso and Maldonado, Rio Plata.

Scolopax Magellanicus,King, Zool. Journ.

My specimens were obtained from Maldonado and East Falkland Island. Flight a very little less irregular and rapid than the English snipe. I several times in May observed this, as well as the foregoing species, flying in lofty circles, and suddenly stooping downwards, at the same time that it uttered a peculiar drumming noise, similar to that made by the English snipe in summer, when breeding. This species is most closely allied to the foregoing, but I have no doubt it is distinct; because at the time when I procured specimens of both at Maldonado, I perceived a difference between them. This species is there more abundant than theS. Paraguaiæ. Its beak is nearly three-tenths of an inch shorter, and the culmen rather broader. The plumage of its back is of a decidedly less dark tint; each separate feather having much less black in it.

Strepsilas interpres.Ill.

Tringa Morinellus,L.

I obtained specimens from Iquique, on the coast of Peru, and from the Galapagos Archipelago.

Crex lateralis,Licht., Cat. p.——Griff.An. King. Aves.

Crex lateralis,Licht., Cat. p.

——Griff.An. King. Aves.

Maldonado, Rio Plata. On being disturbed readily takes wing. Base of the bill, especially of the lower mandible, bright green.

Plate XLVIII.

Z. corpore toto supra nigrescenti-fusco, plumâ singulâ medio albo-guttatâ et olivaceo-fusco latè marginatâ; remigibus fuscis, mento albo, corpore infra fuscescenti-nigro, gutture pectoreque albo-striatis; abdomine tegminibusque caudæ inferioribus albo irregulariter transverè strigato; rostro obscure corneo; pedibus olivaceo-viridibus.

Long. tot. 5⅝ unc.;alæ, 3¼;caudæ, 1⅜;tarsi, ⅞;rostri, ½.

The whole of the upper surface blackish brown, each feather spotted with white down the centre, and largely margined with olive brown; quills plain brown; chin white; the remainder of the under surface brownish black, striated with white on the throat and chest, and crossed by irregular bars of the same on the abdomen and under tail coverts; bill dark horn colour; feet olive green.

Habitat, Rio Plata. (Shot on board the Beagle.)

Plate XLIX.

Z. capite corporeque infra, nigrescenti-griseis; corpore supra obscure rubrofusco, uropygio obscurè grisescenti-nigro; alis hypochondriis postice, tegminibusque caudæ inferioribus albo parciter sparsis; rostro nigrofusco; pedibus rubescentibus; iridibus carmineis.

Long. tot. 5¼ unc.;alæ, 2¾;caudæ, 1;tarsi, ⅞;rostri, ¾.

Head and all the under surface blackish grey; all the upper surface dark reddish brown, fading off on the rump into deep greyish black; the wings, hinder part of the flanks, and under tail coverts slightly sprinkled with white; bill, blackish brown; feet, reddish; iris, bright scarlet.

Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago.

Birds. Pl. 48.Zapornia notata.

Birds. Pl. 49.Zapornia spilonota.

This bird frequents in large numbers the high and damp summits of the islands. It lives in the thick beds of carex and other plants, which, from the condensed vapour of the clouds, are constantly kept rather humid. It is tame, but lives concealed; it often utters a loud and peculiar cry. The female is said to lay from eight to twelve eggs. It is, I believe, the only bird in this archipelago which is exclusively confined to the upper parts of the islands. With respect to the specific description, I must observe, that in one of the specimens, the few and small white spots on the wings and abdomen are wanting. This is not a sexual distinction, but possibly may be owing to immaturity.

Common on the low coral islets, forming the Keeling or Cocos Atoll in the Indian ocean. With the exception of a snipe, this was the only bird without webfeet which inhabited this group.

Rallus ypecaha,Vieill.Ency. Meth. p. 1071.Crex melampyga,Licht.Cat. Sp.L’Ypacaha,Azara, No. 367.

Rallus ypecaha,Vieill.Ency. Meth. p. 1071.

Crex melampyga,Licht.Cat. Sp.

L’Ypacaha,Azara, No. 367.

Buenos Ayres.

Rallus sanguinolentus,Swains, 2 cent. and a quart.

Valparaiso.

Gallinula crassirostris,J.E. Gray, in Griff. An. Kingd.

I obtained specimens on the banks of the Plata and at Valparaiso.

Crex galeata,Licht.Cat. 80. sp. 826.Yahana proprement dit,Azara, No. 379.Gallinula galeata,Bonap.

Crex galeata,Licht.Cat. 80. sp. 826.

Yahana proprement dit,Azara, No. 379.

Gallinula galeata,Bonap.

Concepcion, Chile.

P. vertice, remigibus primariis obscurè olivaceo-viridibus, harum apicibus flavescenti albo angustè marginatis; corpore supra obscure olivaceo-viridi, plumâ singulâobscurè fulvo late marginatâ; genis gutture, corporeque infra flavescentibus; rostro rubro; pedibus viridescenti-flavis.

Long. tot. 9 unc.;alæ, 5½;caudæ, 2½;tarsi, 1⅞;rostrio, ⅞.

Habitat, Ascension Island, Atlantic Ocean. (July.)

This specimen was killed with a stick near the summit of the Island. It was evidently a straggler, which had not long arrived. There is no aboriginal land bird at Ascension.

Plate L.

Anser melanopterus,Eyton, Monog. Anatidæ, p. 93.

Captain FitzRoy purchased a skin of this fine goose at Valparaiso, which he has presented to the British Museum. There is another specimen at the Zoological Society, which Mr. Pentland procured from the lake of Titicaca, in Bolivia.

Anas Magellanica,Gmel.Syst. i. 505.Chloephaga Magellanica,Eyton, Monog. Anatidæ, p. 82.Bernicla leucoptera,Less.Trait d’Ornith. 627.

Anas Magellanica,Gmel.Syst. i. 505.

Chloephaga Magellanica,Eyton, Monog. Anatidæ, p. 82.

Bernicla leucoptera,Less.Trait d’Ornith. 627.

This goose is found in Tierra del Fuego, and at the Falkland Islands; at the latter it is common. They live in pairs and in small flocks throughout the interior of the island, being rarely or never found on the sea-coast, and seldom even near fresh water lakes. I believe this bird does not migrate from the Falkland Islands; it builds on the small outlying islets. This latter circumstance is supposed to be owing to the fear of the foxes; and it is perhaps from the same cause, that although very tame by day, they are much the contrary in the dusk of the evening. These geese live entirely on vegetable matter; they are called by the seamen, the “upland geese.” Mr. Eyton, in his excellent Monograph on the Anatidæ, has described the trachea of this bird, which I brought home in spirits.

Bernicla antarctica,Steph.Sh. Zool. xii. 59.——Eyton, Monograph, p. 84.Anas Antarctica,Gmel.Syst. i. 505.

Bernicla antarctica,Steph.Sh. Zool. xii. 59.

——Eyton, Monograph, p. 84.

Anas Antarctica,Gmel.Syst. i. 505.

This goose is common in Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands, and on the western coast, as far north as Chiloe. It is called by the sailors the “rock goose,” as it lives exclusively on the rocky parts of the sea-coast. In the deep and retired channels of Tierra del Fuego, the snow-white male, invariably accompanied by his darker consort, and standing close by each other on some distant rocky point, is a common feature in the landscape. Mr. Eyton has described the treachea of this species, which I brought home.

Birds. Pl. 50.Anser melanopterus.

Pæcilonitta Bahamensis.Eyton.

Pæcilonitta Bahamensis,Eyton, Monog. p. 116.Anas Bahamensis,Linn.Syst. i. 199.Mareca Bahamensis,Steph.Gen. Zool. xii. p. 137.

Pæcilonitta Bahamensis,Eyton, Monog. p. 116.

Anas Bahamensis,Linn.Syst. i. 199.

Mareca Bahamensis,Steph.Gen. Zool. xii. p. 137.

A specimen was procured from a small salt-water lagoon in the Galapagos Archipelago (October.)

It was a male; bill, lead colour; base of superior mandible purple, with a black mark in the upper part.

Dafila urophasianus,Eyton, Monog. Anatidæ. p. 112.Anas urophasianus,King, Zool. Journ. iv. 351.

Dafila urophasianus,Eyton, Monog. Anatidæ. p. 112.

Anas urophasianus,King, Zool. Journ. iv. 351.

Bahia Blanca, Northern Patagonia.

Rhynchaspis maculatus,Gould, in Jard. & Selby Illust. Orn. p. 147. pl. 147.

Mr. Gould observes that, “A good figure of this beautiful shoveller may be found in the 3rd vol. of Messrs. Jardine and Selby’s Illustrations of Ornithology. Their figure was taken from an example which I forwarded to those gentlemen with the name ofmaculataattached: my specimen was received from the Rio Plata, and this is also the locality whence (in October) Mr. Darwin’s specimen was procured. The numerous and conspicuous spots distributed over the body, renders this species readily distinguishable from all the other members of the genus.”

Querquedula erythrorhyncha,Eyton, Monog. Anatidæ, p. 127.Anas erythrorhyncha,Spix, Av. Nov. sp. pl.

Querquedula erythrorhyncha,Eyton, Monog. Anatidæ, p. 127.

Anas erythrorhyncha,Spix, Av. Nov. sp. pl.

My specimens were obtained from Buenos Ayres (October) and the Straits of Magellan (February.)

Querquedula creccoïdes,Eyton, Monog. Anatidæ, p. 128.Anas creccoides,King, Zool. Journ. iv. 99.

Querquedula creccoïdes,Eyton, Monog. Anatidæ, p. 128.

Anas creccoides,King, Zool. Journ. iv. 99.

Mr. Gould observes that, “This species was first described by Mr. Vigors,from a specimen in the collection brought from the Straits of Magellan, by Capt. P. P. King. It is a true teal, and in size and form closely assimilates to the common teal of Europe, and to the species inhabiting North America (Querquedula Carolinensis, Bonap.) to both of which it is evidently an analogue, and doubtless represents those birds in the southern half of the American continent.” My specimens were procured from the Rio Plata, and from the Straits of Magellan.

Micropterus brachypterus,Eyton, Monog. Anat. p. 144.Anas brachytera,Lath., Ind. Orn. ii. 834.

Micropterus brachypterus,Eyton, Monog. Anat. p. 144.

Anas brachytera,Lath., Ind. Orn. ii. 834.

These great logger-headed ducks, which sometimes weigh as much as twenty-two pounds, were called by the old navigators, from their extraordinary manner of paddling and splashing over the water, race-horses, but now much more properly steamers. Their wings are too small and weak to allow of flight, but by their aid, partly swimming and partly flapping the surface of the water, they move very quickly. The manner is something like that by which the common house duck escapes, when pursued by a dog; but I am nearly sure that the steamer moves its wings alternately, instead of, as in other birds, both together. These clumsy birds make such a noise and splashing, that the effect is most curious. The steamer is able to dive but a very short distance. It feeds entirely on shellfish from the floating kelp and tidal rocks; hence the beak and head are surprisingly heavy and strong, for the purpose of breaking them. So strong is the head, that I have sometimes scarcely been able to fracture it with my geological hammer; and all our sportsmen soon discovered how tenacious these birds were of life. When pluming themselves in the evening in a flock they make an odd mixture of sounds, somewhat like bull-frogs within the tropics.

My specimens were obtained from Bahia Blanca (September), Northern Patagonia, and the Falkland Islands. In the former place it lived in small flocks in the salt-water channels, extending between the great marshes at the head of the harbour. At the Falkland Islands I saw (March) very few individuals; and these only in one small fresh water lake. Tarsi of the same colour as the plumage of the back; iris of a beautiful tint, between “scarlet and carmine red;” pupil black. Mr. Gould remarks that, “This beautiful species ofPodicepsis equal in size, and has many of the characters of theP. auritus, but is at once distinguished from that species by the silvery colouring of the plumes that adorn the sides of the head; which inP. auritusare deep chestnut.”

2.Podiceps rollandii.Quoy et Gaim.

Podiceps Rolland,Quoy et Gaim. Voy. de l’Uranie, pl. 36. p. 133.

I obtained specimens from the Falkland Islands (March), where it was common at the head of the tortuous bays which intersect those islands; from a fresh water lake near the Strait of Magellan (February); and from the eastern coast of Chiloe. The male and female have the same plumage. Iris of a fine red colour. Mr. Gould adds that, “this species appears to be as nearly related to thePodiceps cornutus, as the preceding species is toP. auritus, but is readily distinguishable from it, by the white spot in the centre of the tuft of feathers that spring from the sides of the face.”

Le macas cornu,Azara, No. 443.

This specimen was procured in a fresh water lake near Buenos Ayres. Capt. P. King brought home specimens from the salt-water channels in Tierra del Fuego, where it is excessively numerous. It often makes a very melancholy cry, which suits the gloomy climate of those desolate shores.

Spheniscus Humboldtii,Meyen. Nov. Act. Acad. Cæs. Leop. Car. Nat. Cur. 1834, 110. pl. 21.

My specimen was obtained near Valparaiso. Meyen, who first described this bird, procured it from the coast of Peru.

Puffinus cinereus,Steph. Gen. Zool. xiii. p. 227.Procellaria puffinus,Linn.

Puffinus cinereus,Steph. Gen. Zool. xiii. p. 227.

Procellaria puffinus,Linn.

This bird frequents the seas on the whole coast of South America. I obtained specimens from Tierra del Fuego, Chiloe, the mouth of the Plata, and Callao Bay on the coast of Peru. It is likewise known to be common in the Northern Hemisphere; this species, therefore, has a most extensive range. It generally frequents the retired inland sounds in very large flocks; although, occasionally, two or three may be seen out at sea. I do not think I ever saw so many birds of any other sort together, as I once saw of these petrels, behind the Island of Chiloe. Hundreds of thousands flew in an irregular line, for several hours in one direction. When part of the flock settled on the water, the surface was blackened; and a cackling noise proceeded from them, as of human beings talking in the distance. At this time, the water was in parts coloured by clouds of small crustacea. The inhabitants of Chiloe told me that this petrel was very irregularin its movements;—sometimes they appeared in vast numbers, and on the next day not one was to be seen. At Port Famine, every morning and evening, a long band of these birds continued to fly with extreme rapidity, up and down the central parts of the channel, close to the surface of the water. Their flight was direct and vigorous, and they seldom glided with extended wings in graceful curves, like most other members of this family. Occasionally, they settled for a short time on the water; and they thus remained at rest during nearly the whole of the middle of the day. When flying backwards and forwards, at a distance from the shore, they evidently were fishing: but it was rare to see them seize any prey. They are very wary, and seldom approach within gun-shot of a boat or of a ship;—a disposition strikingly different from that of most of the other species. The stomach of one, killed near Port Famine, was distended with seven prawn-like crabs, and a small fish. In another, killed off the Plata, there was the beak of a small cuttle-fish. I observed that these birds, when only slightly winged, were quite incapable of diving. There is no difference in the plumage of the sexes. The web between the inner toes, with the exception of the margin, is “reddish lilac-purple;” the rest being blackish. Legs and half of the lower mandible blackish purple. From accounts which I have received, the individuals of this species, which live in the Northern Hemisphere, appear to have exactly the same habits as those above described.

Puffinuria Berardi,Less.Tr. d’Orn. p. 614.Procellaria Berardi,Quoy et Gaim. Voy. de pl. 31

Puffinuria Berardi,Less.Tr. d’Orn. p. 614.

Procellaria Berardi,Quoy et Gaim. Voy. de pl. 31

This bird is common in the deep and quiet creeks and inland seas of Tierra del Fuego, and on the west coast of Patagonia, as far north as the Chonos Archipelago. I never saw but one in the open sea, and that was between Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands. This bird is a complete auk in its habits, although from its structure it must be classed with the Petrels. To the latter Mr. Gould informs me, its affinity is clearly shewn by the form of its beak and nostrils, length of foot, and even by the general colouring of its plumage. To the auks it is related in the general form of its body, its short wings, shape of tail, and absence of hind-toe to the foot. When seen from a distance and undisturbed, it would almost certainly be mistaken, from its manner of swimming and frequent diving, for a grebe. When approached in a boat, it generally dives to a distance, and on coming to the surface, with the same movement takes flight: having flown some way, it drops like a stone on the water, as if struck dead, and instantaneously dives again. No one seeing this bird for the first time, thus divinglike a grebe and flying in a straight line by the rapid movement of its short wings like an auk, would be willing to believe that it was a member of the family of petrels;—the greater number of which are eminently pelagic in their habits, do not dive, and whose flight is usually most graceful and continuous. I observed at Port Famine, that these birds, in the evening, sometimes flew in straight-lines from one part of the sound to another; but during the day, they scarcely ever, I believe, take wing, if undisturbed. They are not very wild: if they had been so, from their habit of diving and flying, it would have been extremely difficult to have procured a specimen. The legs of this bird are of a “flax-flower blue.”

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