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Show 136 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF TilE BEAGLE. from a specimen in the collection brought from the Straits of Ma~ell.an, by Capt. P. P. King. It is a true teal, and in size and form closely ass~m1lates to the common teal of Europe, and to the species inhabiting North Amenca (Querquedula Carolincnsis, Bonap.) to both of which it is evidently an analo~ue, and ~oubt~ less represents those birds in the southern half of the Amencan contu~ent. My specimens were procured from the Rio Plata, and from the Straits of Magellan. MrcnoPTERUS BRACHYPTEnus. Eyton. Microptcrus braohypterus, Eyton, Monog. Anat. p. 144. Anas brnchytora, Lath. Ind. Om. ii. 834. These great logger-headed ducks, which sometimes weigh as much as twentytwo 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. J. PoDICEPS KALIPAREus. Quoy o/ Gaim. 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 Islander! 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 of Podiceps is equal in size, and has many of the characters of the P.auritus, but is at once distinguished from that species by the silvery colouring of the plumes that adorn the sides of the head; which in P. auritus are deep chestnut." 1 BIRDS. 137 2. PODICEPS ROLLANDII. Quo,lj et Gaim. Podiceps Rolland, Quoy et Gaim. Yoy. 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 the Podiccps comulus, as the preceding species is to P. au1·it1ts, 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." 3. PoniCEPs CHILENSIS. Gamot. Le macas cornu, Azm·a, 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. Sphcniscus Humboldtii, Meyen. Nov. Act. Acnd. Cres. 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. Steplt. Pnffinus cineret1S1 Stepk. Gen. Zoo]. 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 Hemisphe•·e ; this species, therefore, has a most extensive range. It g~nerally frequents the retired inland sounds in very large flocks; although, occastOnally, 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 Isl~nd of Chiloe. Hundrefls of thousands flew in an irregular line, for several hours m 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 ?f small crustacea. The inhabitants of Chiloe told me that this petrel was very trregular T |
