AVES ANATID^. 493 



by Mr Hatcher give intimation of meeting this or allied ducks in the lakes 

 of the interior of Patagonia, and it seems improbable that at the time of 

 year when these observers were in the field that there were ducks of this 

 kind in the waters in question. 



A duck of this kind, collected by the naturalists of the Museo de La 

 Plata, in northern Patagonia, in the coast region south of the Rio Negro, has 

 been employed for the basis of the description of the adult male, given 

 above. This greatly extends the Atlantic Coast range of the species from 

 that known up to the present and brings the two coasts of South America 

 nearly even in the north and south distribution of this bird, for it has 

 been taken at the Island of Chiloe and still further north on the coast 

 near Valdivia, which is farther north on the Pacific than is the mouth of 

 the Rio Negro on the Atlantic coast. 



Herewith are appended the observations of some of the explorers and 

 naturalists who have been so favored as to become acquainted with the 

 Steamer Duck in its native waters : 



"A single specimen of a snipe was, however, procured, as well as an 

 example of that marvellous bird, the Logger-head or steamer-duck, which 

 was suddenly disturbed while it was reposing on the beach, and with 

 great rapidity took to the water, where it was shot, before it had paddled 

 out any great distance, by two of the officers, one of whom afterwards 

 evinced a most commendable zeal for the advancement of science by un- 

 dressing and swimming out for it. This, our first sight of a bird of which 

 we had heard or read so much, caused great excitement at the time, as 

 we were not then aware that it was one of the most common birds in the 

 Strait." (Sandy Point, December 25, 1866. Cunn. Nat. Hist. Str. 

 Magell. 1 87 1, p. 88.) 



"The following day (27th) I was busily occupied all forenoon in skin- 

 ning the steamer-duck shot on Christmas day; and as I shall frequently 

 refer to the bird in the course of my narrative, I shall offer a few general 

 remarks on its history in this place. The earliest notice of the steamer- 

 duck with which I am acquainted occurs in the voyage of the celebrated 

 Pedro Sarmiento, who visited the Strait in 1582 ; and in an account of the 

 principal birds of the Strait, describes 'patos pardas y bermejas sin pluma 

 que ne vuelan, sino a vuela pie corren, y par el agua no se pueden 

 levantar sino a vuela pie, dando con las alones a manero de remo. Huyen 

 por el agua con mucha velocidad, y desan un rastro por el agua como un 



