112 BIRDS OF TIERRA DEL FUEGO 



Darwin never observed these birds on the wing, as he says : — 

 "Their wings are too small and weak to allow of flight; but 

 by their aid, partly swimming and partly flapping the surface of 

 the water, they move very quickly. The manner is something 

 like that by which the common house Duck escapes, when pur- 

 sued by a dog ; but I am nearly sure that the Steamer moves 

 its wings alternately, instead of, as in other birds, both together. 

 . . . When pluming themselves in the evening in a flock they 

 make an odd mixture of sounds, somewhat like bull-frogs within 

 the Tropics." 



Capt. Abbott maintains two species. Of M. cinereus he 

 says : — " This Duck frequents salt water. The harbour of Stanley 

 is full of them, as well as every other part of the coast. Each 

 pair has a certain district, where they take up their quarters, 

 diving for shell-fish and whatever the tide throws up, and 

 driving away any other of their species that may come within 

 their bounds. This Duck lays from the end of September to 

 the end of November, making its nest either in the long grass 

 or bush of some kind. Whenever a male bird is seen by himself 

 on the water during the breeding season, the female will be found 

 sitting somewhere in a line perpendicular to the shore opposite to 

 him, and generally not very far ofi". My dog once found seven 

 nests, all with the old bird on, in a small grass valley a short 

 way from the beach at Mare Harbour. Seven is the usual 

 number of eggs, though sometimes eight or nine are found." 

 To M. patackonicus he ascribes the habit of frequenting 

 rather the freshwater ponds near the sea, and of being some- 

 what more wary. Of this he shot one example, and found a 

 nest with seven eggs. He saw " the flying Loggerhead take long 

 flights." 



Dr. Cunningham says : — " It is generally to be observed in 

 pairs, or small flocks of six or seven individuals, stationed on the 

 rocks, or swimming about in the extensive beds of the ' kelp,' 

 which girdles the coast in most spots ; but, occasionally large 

 flocks, composed of many hundreds, are to be met with. When 



