1% 



unknown in Chili, although common in many of 

 the American settlements. 



The domestic fowl, which the Indians call 

 ticliau, is of the same breed as that of Europe, 

 but it is asserted on the faith of an ancient tradi- 

 tion, that it has always been known in the coun- 

 try ; and what tends to confirm this opinion, is 

 the proper name which it has in the Chilian lan- 

 guage, which is not the case with other birds of 

 foreign extraction, such as the common pigeon, 

 the tame duck, the goose, and the turkey. From 

 whence it would seem that the domestic fowl, the 

 hog, and the dog, are animals destined to ac- 

 company man in whatever country he may be 

 placed. This opiiiion is confirmed by the late 

 English navigators, who have met with them 

 in almost all the islands of the Pacific. 



Among the numerous birds tliat inhabit Chili, 

 1 shall notice those only that are the most re- 

 markable, which I '^luill divide into two general 

 classes, the palmafcd or wcb-fooled, and the 

 cloven- footed. The lirst have their toes wiited 

 by a membrane, and frequent the water, where 

 they feed upon fish, aquatic |)lants, or insects. 



Of these, the principal is the penguin (diome- 

 dea Chilensis). This bird, on the part of the 

 feathered tribe, forms a lisik of union between 

 Jhe cla-scs of birds and fishes, as the flying-fish 

 does Oil that of the finny race. Tlie feet are 

 palmatcd like those of a duck, but iU plumage is 



