118 BAHIA BLANCA. 



females, otherwise the eggs would remain scatter- 

 ed over the wide plains at distances far too great 

 to allow of the male collecting them into one nest: 

 some authors have believed that the scattered eggs 

 were deposited for the young birds to feed on. 

 This can hardly be the case in America, because 

 the huachos, although often found addled and pu- 

 trid, 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 osti'ich 

 (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 dowm than those of the com- 

 mon ostrich. It is more easily caught by the bolas 

 than the other species. The few inhabitants who 

 had seen both kinds, affirmed 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 de- 

 gree and a half further south they are tolerably 

 abundant. When at Port Desire, in Patagonia 

 (lat. 48°), Mr. Martens shot an ostrich ; and I look- 

 ed at it, forgetting at the inoment, in the most unac- 

 countable 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 veiy nearly perfect specimen has 



