1833.] THE AVESTKUZ PETISE. 87 



other species. The few inhabitants who had seen both kinds, 

 affirmed they could distinguish them apart from a long distance. 

 The eggs of tho small species appeared, however, more generally 

 known ; and it was remarked, with surprise, that they were very 

 little less than those of the Ehea, but of a slightly different form, 

 and with a tinge of pale blue. This species occurs most rarely on 

 the plains bordering the Eio 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 Petiscs, 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 pre- 

 served; 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 de- 

 posited 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 Eio Negro in lat. 41, and that the 

 Struthio Darwiuii takes its place in Southern Patagonia ; the part 

 about the Eio Negro being neutral territory. M. A. d'Orbigny,* 



* When at the Kio Negro, \ve heard much of the indefatigable labours 

 of this naturalist. M. Alcide d'Orbigny, during the years 1825 to 183B, 

 traversed several large portions of South America, and has made a collec- 



