100 Captain P. P. King on the Animals 



faintly marked, so as to exhibit irregular fascice. The bill is yellow with 

 a black apex; the legs of a fuscous yellow, darker at the extremities. 

 The length of the bird is 16 J inches; of the bill. If; of the wing, from 

 the carpal joint to the extremity of the second quill feather, 8^?^; of the 

 tail, 4f; ofthe^amty, IJ. 



59. A gigantic species of Duck, the largest I have met with. — It 

 possesses the lobated hind toe, with the legs thrown backward behind the- 

 equilibrium of the body, and other characters which distinguish the 

 oceanic Ducks from the more terrestrial species of the family. It belongs 

 to the group which M. Temminck has lately named Hylobates, without 

 attending to the name long since conferred upon it by our country- 

 man Dr. Fleming. The bird is a Patagonian in stature, according, at 

 least, to the generally received signification of the word, as well as in 

 station; and well deserves the name of 



OlDEMIA PaTACHONICA. 



Oid. supra plumheo-grisescens, abdomine speculoque alarum alhis. 



The gray colour that predominates over the entire of the upper parts 

 of this bird assumes a lighter colour on the neck: the feathers also of the 

 upper part of the back and of the breast, exhibit a lighter shade in the 

 centre. The middle only of the abdomen is white, the sides being gray. 

 The under wing coverts are gray above, white below. The bill is bright 

 yellowish orange with a black knob ; the legs fuscous yellow. The bend 

 of the wing has a blunt spur. The length from the apex of the bill to that 

 of the tail is 40 inches; of the bill, 3; of the wing, from the carpal 

 joint to the «pex of the second quill feather, 11; of the tail, 5; of the 

 tarsi, 2 J. 



60. A small Grebe, very like our British Podiceps minor. — I believe 

 it, however, to be a distinct species, but I can say nothing decided of it 

 from the want of materials for comparison. 



61. A larger species of Grebe, that bears much affinity to our red- 

 necked species : but the length and strength of the bill seem to me to 

 keep them sufficiently distinct. Upon comparison I think it probable 

 you will find other marks of distinction. 



