on the Birds of Chili. 185 



They are not plentiful, and are said to be gradually de- 

 creasing. All the old residents stated that they once existed 

 in enormous quantities, the reason of their decrease being 

 said to be that the railways have reduced the number of 

 beasts of burden, on the carcases of which they fed. 



They are extremely wary, and I was unable to get one in 

 the Cordilleras, although I made an Indian watch for them 

 a long time by a dead donkey, which is supposed to be a 

 special attraction. 



66. Pelecanus moling. Gray. 



(Coronel.) 



This Pelican occurs plentifully about the coast of Northern 

 and Central Chili, and is generally called " Alcatras " by the 

 natives. I obtained a specimen of the adult male at Coronel 

 during the winter season. I saw five of these birds flying 

 across the harbour of Corral (Valdivia) in October 1890. 

 However, I was told they only occur there sparingly in 

 summer time. I believe they are frequently captured in a 

 calm by fishermen, not being capable of rising in smooth 

 water. 



f- 67. SULA VARIEGATA (Tsch.). 



This is a numerous species on the west coast of South 

 America, especially about Northern Chili. 



I have only observed them out at sea, or flying parallel to 

 the beach well out of gun-shot. They may be readily 

 distinguished when feeding, which they do like their con- 

 geners, dropping vertically into the water, sometimes from a 

 height of from twenty to thirty feet. 



On 28th Dec, 1889, while on board the s.s. ' Puno ' going 

 to Iquique, I saw large quantities of these birds outside 

 Coquimbo. There was evidently a shoal of fish beneath, 

 for they kept dropping into the water so fast and in such 

 numbers that the effect was remarkable, and can only be 

 described as resembling a shower of large hailstones. 



I did not notice them south of Arauco, but I believe they 

 occur at Valdivia in summer time, and perhaps further 

 south. I did not hear of a Chilian breeding-place, but was 



