202 Lieut. J. R. H. MacFarlane on Birds 



film spread over the rotten, rain-soddeu vegetation of ages, 

 which may be several feet in depth. 



The Steamer Duck {Tachyeres cinereus), ubiquitous in 

 the Magellan Straits, here shows a great decrease in 

 numbers, and only a few Kelp Geese [Bernicla antarctica) 

 are to be seen. At Port Grappler, on the 27th February, 

 three rich ruddy-brown Geese were observed, probably 

 Bernicla magellanica, also one or two Shags and Belted 

 Kingfishers, and we shot a few Snipes. Throughout the 

 whole of this channel no traces of human beings were met 

 with. At Grey's Harbour, near English Narrows, a Huanaco 

 was seen and fired at, and in the broad Messier Channel, 

 leading into the Gulf of Penas, there were a few Larus 

 dominiccmus. 



The change from this damp and verdant country to the 

 dry sandy bay of Coquimbo (30° S.) is very great. Scarcely 

 any green here meets the eye save a few trees round La 

 Serena, seven miles further up the coast, and a small forest 

 of Eucalyptus globulus planted round the copper-works be- 

 longing to Mr. Charles Lambert, at La Compauia, about a 

 mile from La Serena. In the bay there were a good many 

 Lanes dominicanus in different stages of plumage, but no 

 other Gulls or Terns, also a few Pelicans ; and between the 

 30th March and 2nd April there Avas a heavy migration, 

 principally at night, of Herons, Egrets, &c. 



In the long strip of marsh extending nearly from Coquimbo 

 to La Serena and running parallel to the sea-beach, a few 

 Snipe, Teal, and Curlew may be picked up, and by taking 

 the railway inland fair " partridge '^-shooting obtained. These 

 birds look and fly more like a Quail, whistling loudly on 

 getting up ; they are really Tinamous [Nothoprocta perdi- 

 caria), and average about a pound in weight. In March they 

 are somewhat scarce, the rains not having commenced, so that 

 the birds are not down from the hills. In the quebradas 

 or ravines there is some pretty shooting in July, August, 

 and September ; August being the best month, as the 

 "Tortolas^' [Zenaida aurita and Z. boliviana) are numerous 

 and fly strongly up these gullies in the evenings, giving by 



