Letters, Announcements, S^c. 127 



specimen of the King-Penguin, which had been shot at Sandy 

 Point. We met with three species of Geese : — 1st, the Upland- 

 Goose {Bernicla magellanica), which occurred in immense flocks in 

 the open country ; 2ndly, a smaller chesnut-breasted Goose ; 

 and 3rdly, the Kelp-Goose {B. antarctica). The first and 

 third species are abundant at the Falkland Islands ; the second 

 we only saw in the Straits. I do not know whether you remem- 

 ber asking me to get some information about the Steamer-Duck 

 [Micropterus cinereus). You asked me to find out, if possible, 

 whether there were two distinct species, one possessed of the 

 power of flight, the other destitute of it*. In answer to this, I 

 can state from personal observation that some Steamer-Ducks 

 can fly undoubtedly, and that others evidently cannot ; but I 

 have examined specimens of both, and cannot find out any spe- 

 cific distinction in the plumage ; the only diff"erence that I can 

 make out is that the body of the flightless bird is proportionally 

 heavier than that of those which fly. I hope, however, to in- 

 vestigate the subject further in the ensuing season. You also 

 mentioned that you had an idea that the Steamer-Duck might 

 be following the fate of the Gare-fowl or Great Auk. To this I 

 have to reply that there is no evidence of this process going on 

 at present, as the bird is very plentiful in the eastern part of 

 the Straits, and also occurs in abundance at the Falkland Islands, 

 where we find them much tamer than in the Straits. It is a 

 most amusing sight to see a flock of these birds waddle off" the 

 beach on being disturbed, and go steaming off" at a great rate, 

 leaving a wake of foam behind them. They have two peculiar 

 and very distinct notes — one like the mew of a cat, the other a 

 sort of low, hoarse growl. The flesh, which we ate on one or 

 two occasions, is very dark-coloured, tough, coarse, and fearfully 

 fishy. I never saw a bird so hard to kill ; but nearly all the 

 watex'-fowl of the Straits possess a most extraordinary tenacity of 

 life. Three or four other species of Anatidce also occurred to 

 us ; and several species of Gulls and Terns are common. A very 

 minute Grebe was seen in ])lenty, chiefly swimming amongst 

 the floating kelp ; and, near the eastern entrance of the Straits, 

 Petrels and Albatroses were not uncommon. 



* [Cf. P. Z. S. 18C.], p. 40.— Ei).] 



