t833.] the AVESTRUZ PETISE. ioi 



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 

 chese 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 de- 



Eosited them. At Santa Cruz we saw several of these 

 irds. 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 



