BIRDS. 145 



ViRALVA ARANEA. G. R. Gray. 



Sterna aranea, Wils. Am. Orn. pi. 72. f. C. 



My specimen was procured at Bahia Blanca, in Northern Patagonia. I may 

 here observe, that many navigators have supposed that terns, when met with out 

 at sea, are a sure indication of land. But these birds seem not unfrequently to be 

 lost in the open ocean ; thus one (3Iegaloptencs stoUdus) flew on board the Beagle 

 in the Pacific, when several hundred miles from the Galapagos Archipelago. No 

 doubt, the remark made by navigators, with respect to the proximity of land where 

 terns are seen, refers to birds in a flock, fishing, or otherwise showing that they 

 are familiar with that part of the sea. I, therefore, more particularly mention, 

 that off" the mouth of the Rio Negro, on the Patagonian shore, I saw a flock 

 (probably the Viralva aranea) fishing seventy miles from land : and off the coast 

 of Brazil a flock of another species, 120 from the nearest part of the coast. The 

 latter birds were in numbers, and were busily engaged in dashing at their 

 prey. 



Megalopterus stolidus. Boie. 



Sterna stolida, Linn. Syst. i. 227. 



My specimens were procured from the Galapagos Archipelago. It is well 

 known to be an inhabitant of the seas in the warmer latitudes over the whole 

 world. The Rocks of St. Paul's, nearly under the equator, in the Atlantic ocean, 

 were almost covered with the rude and simple nests of this bird, made with a few 

 pieces of sea-weed. The females were sitting upon their eggs (in February), and 

 by the side of many of their nests, parts of flying-fish were placed, I suppose, by 

 the male bird for his partner to feed on during the labour of incubation. 



Phalacrocorax carunculatus. Stephens. 



Phalacrocorax carunculatus, Steph. Gen. Zool. 



Pelecanus carunculatus, Gm. Syst. i. 576. 



Phalacrocorax imperialis, Kinp, Zool. Proc, vol. i. pt. 1. 30. 



I procured a specimen of this bird at Port St. Julian, on the coast of 

 Patagonia, where, during January, many were building. I merely mention it 

 here, for the purpose of describing the singularly bright colours of the naked skin 

 about its head. Skin round the eyes " campanula blue ;" cockles at the base of 

 the upper mandible, "saffron mixed with gamboge-yellow." Marks between the 

 eye and the corner of the mouth, " orpiment orange ;" tarsi scarlet. 



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