of the Straits of Magellan. 93 



from that species, were it not for the discrepancy that exists in the pro- 

 portions of the tarsi of both birds. This is a strong character among the 

 Scolopaces, and one upon which great stress is laid in the discrimination 

 of the European species. As the true Scolopax is a restricted group, 

 I feel less hesitation in describing our Magellanic bird as new, from 

 there being so few points of comparison to refer to. 



Scolopax Magellanicus. 



Scol. supra brunneus, rufo fulvo nigroque maculatus undulatusque; 

 abdomine medio albo; pectore brunneo rufoque spar so; tarsis brevibus. 



The chief difference between this bird and the ScoL gallinago consists, 

 as I have already observed, in the inferiour length of the tarsus of the 

 former. In the American bird that member scarcely exceeds an inch in 

 length; in the European it is an inch and three-eighths. The bill also 

 is shorter. Besides the difference in the proportions of these members 

 there is also a perceptible difference in the markings of the two birds. 

 Although the colours and the general disposition of them is the same in 

 both, the American species is much less strongly marked than our native 

 bird. The three longitudinal fulvous streaks that run from the front 

 to the hirid head of the latter are nearly wanting, or supplied only by a 

 few fulvous spots irregularly disposed in the former. The strikingly con- 

 spicuous streaks also of the same colour that form so distinguishing an 

 ornament along the back of Scol gallinago are less frequent and consider- 

 ably more narrow in Scol, Magellanicus. The tail feathers in this latter 

 bird are sixteen in number. The outer feathers are lighter in colour, 

 having no brown or fulvous markings, and they are much narrower, 

 particularly the outside feathers, than in the European bird. The length 

 of the bird from the front to the end of the tail is 8 J inches ; of the beak, 

 2^ ; of the wing from the carpal joint to the end of the first quill feather, 

 5; of the tail, 2 J; and of the torn, l-j-^. 



43. A species of Rhynchcea, Cuv. — I consider this bird as -one of 

 the most interesting acquisitions made in our voyage. This singular and 

 strongly marked genus has been hitherto considered peculiar to the Old 

 World, and two species only having been discovered, an additional spe- 

 cies from the New World is an important accession to science. The form 

 of our Magellanic bird accords accurately with that of the Old World 



