30 CHONOS ARCHIPELAGO. 



ai>d the coast of Peru, is of a much smaller size 

 than the P. gigantea, but, like it, of a dirty black 

 colour. It generally frequents the inland sounds in 

 very large flocks : I do not think I ever saw so 

 many birds of any other sort together as I once 

 saw of these behind the island of Chiloe. Hun- 

 dreds of thousands flew in an irregular line for 

 several hours in one direction. When part of the 

 flock settled on the water the surface was black- 

 ened, and a noise proceeded from them as of hu- 

 man beings talking in the distance. 



There are several other species of petrels, but I 

 will only mention one other kind, the Pelacanoi- 

 des Berardi, which offers an example of those ex- 

 traordinary cases, of a bird evidently belonging to 

 one well-marked family, yet, both in its habits and 

 structure, allied to a very distinct tribe. This bird 

 never leaves the quiet inland sounds. When dis- 

 turbed it dives to a distance, and on coming to the 

 surface, with the same movement takes flight. 

 After flying by the rapid movement of its short 

 wings for a space in a straight line, it drops, as if 

 struck dead, and dives again. The forai of its beak 

 and nostrils, length of foot, and even the colouring 

 of its plumage, show that this bird is a petrel : 

 on the other hand, its short wings and consequent 

 little power of flight, its form of body and shape of 

 tail, the absence of a hind toe to its foot, its habit 

 of diving, and its choice of situation, make it at first 

 doubtful whether its relationship is not equally 

 close with the auks. It would undoubtedly be 

 mistaken for an auk when seen from a distance, 

 either on the wing, or when diving and quietly 

 swimming about the retired channels of TieiTa del 

 Fuego. 



