AVES ANATID/E. 499 



aware of the careful investigations made by Dr. Cunningham in 1866-9, 

 and his conclusion as to there being but one species, I have yet some 

 reason to believe that the fliers and the non-flying birds which I have 

 seen belong to two distinct species, and my impression is though I am 

 by no means sure that the volant species frequents the fresh waters in 

 the interior of Patagonia, and in the western channels is only represented 

 by an odd straggler. Mr. Cox, of Talcahuano, who has travelled in 

 Araucania and central Patagonia, mentions in his narrative, that in the 

 fresh-water lakes of the latter district there are two different species of 

 steamer-ducks, one of which possesses the power of flight. Immature 

 specimens, although differing in the colour of the bill, and somewhat in 

 plumage, from the adult birds, need not be confounded with a second 

 species. The largest steamer-duck which I have come across weighed 

 only 14 Ibs., and although text-books assign a much greater weight as 

 the extreme limit, I think I am right in saying that few heavier birds are 

 met with either in the Straits of Magellan or in the western channels. 

 The female forms a low, oval-shaped nest of twigs, lined with a thick 

 coating of down, and deposits therein six large cream-coloured eggs, 3% 

 in. long, by 2% in width. The nest is usually placed on the ground, at 

 the foot of an old tree, some few yards from the beach, but in a place 

 where the bush is almost impenetrable to a human being." 



(Tom Bay, Magellan Straits, January, 1897. Coppinger, Cruise, "Alert," 

 1883, pp. 61-62.) 



"(Ad.) Iris black; bill orange, nail black ; tarsi and toes orange; webs 

 black ; weight 9^-10 Ibs. 



"(Juv.) Iris black ; bill and feet very dark brown ; weight 5 Ibs. 



"I certainly recognized but one species of Steamer-Duck, and out of a 

 good many dozens met with never saw one fly. In most accounts of this 

 bird it is stated that it rows itself along through the water with its little 

 wings at an incredible rate. It certainly goes very fast, but practically it 

 runs on the water flapping its wings clear of it. It is very wild and its 

 skin is very tough. I found BB's were the only shot that had any effect, 

 and then only at about fifteen yards distance. This duck dives well and 

 remains under water for a considerable time. The immature example 

 obtained was shot by Lord Crawford with a rifle from the deck. Though 

 nearly fully feathered on the back it had no feathers at all on the wings. 

 I saw several examples in down, but was not able to secure one. The 



