I&3J.J- THE AVESTRUZ PET1SE. 6? 



the huachos, although often found addled and putrid, are generally 

 whole. 



When at the Rio Negro in Northern Patagonia,' I repeatedly heard the 

 Gauchos talking of a very rare bird which they called Avestruz Petise. 

 They described it as being less than the common ostrich (which is 

 there abundant), but with a very close general resemblance. They said 

 its colour was dark and mottled, and that its legs were shorter, and 

 feathered lower down than those of the common ostrich. It is more 

 easily caught by the bolas than the other species. The few inhabitants 

 who had seen both kinds, affirmed that they could distinguish them 

 apart from a long distance. The eggs of the small species appeared, 

 however, more generally known ; and it was remarked, with surprise, 

 that they were very little less than those of the Rhea, but of a slightly 

 different form, and with a tinge of pale blue. This species occurs most 

 rarely on the plains bordering the Rio Negro ; but about a degree and 

 a half further south they are tolerably abundant. When at Port Desire, 

 in Patagonia (lat. 48), Mr. Martens shot an ostrich ; and I looked at it, 

 forgetting at the moment, in the most unaccountable manner, the whole 

 subject of the Petises. and thought it was a not full-grown bird of the 

 common sort. It was cooked and eaten before my memory returned. 

 Fortunately the head, neck, legs, wings, many of the larger feathers, 

 and a large part of the skin, had been preserved ; and from these a very 

 nearly perfect specimen has been put together, and is now exhibited 

 in the museum of the Zoological Society. Mr. Gould, in describing 

 this new species, has done me the honour of calling it after my name. 



Among the Patagonian Indians in the Strait of Magellan, we found 

 a half Indian, who had lived some years with the tribe, but had been 

 born in the northern provinces. I asked him if he had ever heard 

 of the Avestruz Petise. He answered by saying, " Why, there are 

 none others in these southern countries." He informed me that the 

 number of eggs in the nest of the petise is considerably less than in 

 that of the other kind, namely, not more than fifteen on an average ; 

 but he asserted that more than one female deposited them. At Santa 

 Cruz we saw several of these birds. They were excessively wary ; I 

 think they could see a person approaching when too far off to be 

 distinguished themselves. In ascending the river few were seen ; but 

 in our quiet and rapid descent, many, in pairs and by fours or fives, 

 were observed. It was remarked that this bird did not expand its 

 wings, when first starting at full speed, after the manner of the 

 northern kind. In conclusion I may observe, that the Struthio rhea 

 inhabits the country of La Plata as far as a little south of the Rio 

 Negro in lat. 41, and that the Struthio Darwinii takes its place in 

 Southern Patagonia ; the part about the Rio Negro being neutral 

 territory. M. A. d'Orbigny,* when at the Rio Negro, made great 



* When at the Rio Negro, we heard much of the indefatigable labours of 

 this naturalist. M. Alcide d'Orbigny, during the years 1825 to 1833, tra- 

 versed several large portions of South America, and has made a collection, 

 and is now publishing the results on a scale of magnificence, which at once 

 places himself in the list of American travellers second only to Humboldt. 



o 



