518 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO I768. 



continued even up part of the claws ; the middle claw is near an inch long, and 

 the inner edge very sharp and thin; the interior toe is small, and placed very 

 high. Skin. — Extremely tough and thick, which, with the closeness of the fea- 

 thers, guards it effectually in the element it is so conversant in. History. — This 

 bird was brought by Capt. Mac-Bride, from the Falkland Isles, off the Straits of 

 Magellan ; we believe this species to have been undescribed ; for the birds that 

 bear the same name are mentioned by every writer, who treat of them as far in- 

 ferior in size to this ; some compare their bulk to that of a duck; but none make 

 it larger than a goose; the colours also of this species are too striking not to 

 have been taken notice of, had it been before discovered. 



Captain Mac-Bride was so obliging as to inform us that this was a very scarce 

 species ; though he saw in the same place multitudes of the lesser kind, with 

 which it agreed in its manner of life. Since the natural history of each species is 

 the same, we shall give a general view of the economy, &c. from such writers as 

 have treated of them. 



It is agreed that they are inhabitants of southern latitudes only, being, as far 

 as is yet known, found only on the coasts of South America, from Port Desire 

 to the Straits of Magellan ; and if we remember right, Frezier says, they are 

 found on the western shore, as high as Conception. In Africa they seem to be 

 unknown, except on a small isle near the Cape of Good Hope, which takes its 

 name from them. 



They are found in prodigious numbers on land during the breeding-season ; 

 for they seldom come ashore but at that time ; they form burrows under ground, 

 like rabbits; and the isles they frequent are perfectly undermined by them, so 

 that it is difficult to walk without falling into their holes, or sinking through the 

 surface up to the shoulders. Such rencontres are disagreeable, as these birds bite 

 extremely hard; and commonly 3 or 4 are found to nestle together in the same 

 hole. Their eggs are said to be rather less than those of a goose; and that they 

 begin to lay the latter end of September, or beginning of October. Their atti- 

 tude on land is quite erect; and on that account they have been compared by 

 some to pygmies, by others to children with white bibs. 



On land they are excessively aukward, by reason of the situation of their legs, 

 which are placed quite behind : they are very tame, and may be driven like a 

 flock of sheep ; when pressed, they seek for shelter either in their burrows, or 

 the sea, which seems to be their more natural element. In the water they are 

 remarkably active, and swim with vast strength, assisting by their wings, which 

 serve instead of fins. Their food in general is fish, not but that they will eat 

 grass like geese; for Sir Richard Hawkins observed, in an isle they frequent off 

 Patagonia, a small valley covered with grass, which the birds never burrowed in, 

 as if they meant to reserve it for pasturage. , 



