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Show 14 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. I did not perceive that the species were different; hence I cannot speak with certainty of their range, but it would appear probable that the M. pezoporus replaces in Chile, Tierra del Fuego and Southern Patagonia the M. cltirnango of La Plata. In the same manner the M. cltimango is replaced between the latitudes of Buenos Ayres and Corrientes by a third closely allied species, the M. ocltrocepltalus. D'Orbigny, (p. 614, in the Zoological part of his work) speaking of the Chimango, says, H II n'est pas etonnant qu'on ait long-temps confondu cette espece avec lefalco degener, Illiger, (the M. ocltrocepltalus) et qu'on l'ait cru de sa famille. 11 est impossible de presenter plus de rapports de forme et surtout de couleur. Nous les avions, nous-ro()me confondus au premier abord ; mais, en remarquant, ulterieurement, que le sujet que nous regardions comme le m~le ne se trouvait qu'a Corrientes, tandis qu'il y avait seulement des femelles sur les rives de la Plata, l'etude plus attentive des mreurs de ces oiseaux, et les localites respectives qu'habite chacun d'eux, ne tarda pas a nous y faire reconnaitre, avec Azara, deux especes vraiment tresdistinctes; mais qui, depuis, ont encore ete confondues, sous la m~me nom, par M. la Prince Maximilien de N euwied. *" I may observe that the figure given in Meyen's work, has the iris coloured bright red, instead of which it should have been brown. 2. MILVAOO CHIMANGO. Polyborus chimo.ngo, Vieill. Ilaliaetus chimango, Less. Chimango, Azar. Voyage, vol. iii. p. 35. My specimen was obtained at Maldonado, on the banks of the Plata. In the following short account of the habits of this bird, it must be understood that I have confounded together, the M. cltimango and the M. pezoponts ; but I am certain that almost every remark is applicable to both species. From what has been said under the last head, it may be inferred, that both of these allied birds have comparatively limited ranges, compared with that of the P. Brasiliensis. Azara says the Chimango (and he first distinguished this species from the ~· oc!t.rocepltalus, or ~· cltimacMma) is rarely found so far north as Paraguay. D Orbigny saw the Clumango (M. pezoporus ?) at Arica in lat. 16°, and I killed theM. pezopm·us in the extreme southern point of America, in lat. 55° 30' south. . Th~ Chir~mngo,. in La Plata, lives chiefly on carrion, and generally is the last bud ~f 1ts ~n~e whic~ leaves the skeleton, and hence it may frequently be seen standmg Withm the ribs of a cow or horse, like a bird in a cage. The Chimango often frequents the .sea-coast and the borders of lakes and swamps, where it picks up small fish. It Is truly omnivorous, and will eat even bread, when thrown out * Tom. iii. p. 162. BIRDS. 15 of a house with other offal. I was also assured that in Chiloe, these birds (probably in this district the M. pezoporus) materially injure the potato crops, by stocking up the roots when first planted. In the same island, I saw them following by scores the plough, and feeding on worms and larvre of insects. I do not believe that they kill, under any circumstances, even small birds or animals. They are more active than the Carranchas, but their flight is heavy; I never saw one soar ; they are very tame ; are not gregarious ; commonly perch on stone walls, and not upon trees. They frequently utter a gentle, shrill scream. 3. MILVAGO LEUCURUS. Falco leucurus, Forster's Drawing!!, No. 34. MS. -- N ovoo Zclandire, Gm. -- australis, Lath. Circo.etus autarcticus, Less. It will be observed in the above list of synonyms, which I have given on the authority of Mr. G. R. Gray, that this bird, although possessing well marked characters, has received several specific names. Mr. Gray's discovery of Forster's original drawing with the name F. leucurus written on it, I consider very fortunate, as it was indispensable that the names by which it is mentioned in most ornithological works, namely, Falco or Polyborus Novm Zelandite, should be changed. There is not, I believe, the slightest reason for supposing that this bird has ever been found in New Zealand. All the specimens which of late years have been brought to England have come from the Falkland Islands, or the extreme southern portion of South America. The sub-family, moreover, to which it belongs, is exclusively American; and I do not know of any case of a land bird being common to this continent and New Zealand. The origin of this specific name, which is so singularly inappropriate, as tending to perpetuate a belief which would form a strange anomaly in the geographical distribution of these birds, may be explained by the circumstance of specimens having been first brought to Europe by the naturalists during Captain Cook's second voyage, during which New Zealand was visited, and a large collection made there. In the homeward voyage, however, Cook anchored in Christmas Sound, in Tierra del Fuego, and likewise in Staten Land : describing the latter place he says, "I have often observed the eagles and vultu1·es sitting on the hillocks among the shags, without the latter, either young or old, being disturbed at their presence. It may be asked how these birds of prey live? I suppose on the carcasses of seals and birds, which die by various causes ; and probably not few, as they are so numerous." From this description I entertain very little doubt that Cook referred to the Catlta'rtes aum and JJiilvago leucurus, both of which birds inhabit these latitudes, as we shall hereafter show. |