136 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



beautiful as it lay in mingled light and shadow. During the 

 forenoon we remained at anchor, as various of the boats were 

 employed in sounding about the neighbourhood. It had 

 been intended that we should pass through the second 

 Narrows in the afternoon, but the wind again arose and 

 defeated the plan. The 6th was, however, everything that 

 could be desired as regarded weather, and we accordingly 

 left our anchorage, and, passing through the Narrows, 

 arrived in Eoyal Koad, between Elizabeth Island and the 

 mainland about noon. A few hours later, a large party of 

 us landed on the island, and remained on shore until the 

 evening. Most of the plants I found had gone out of flower, 

 so that I did not succeed in getting many specimens of value ; 

 but my companions had some good sport, shooting a number 

 of oyster-catchers and upland geese, as well as a specimen of the 

 large ibis which we had previously seen at Sandy Point. This 

 bird (Theristicus melanopis) the handurria of the Chilians (so 

 called in consequence of its remarkable note being supposed 

 to resemble that musical instrument), is common in the 

 open country of Patagonia, as well as in Chili and the 

 Argentine Eepublic. It is of large size, and possesses very 

 handsome plumage — the upper parts, wings, and tail, being of 

 various shades of gray, black, and dark green ; while the 

 head, neck, and breast, are of a yellowish-buff hue. The bill 

 and a naked gular space are black, and the legs dull red. 

 The flight is very strong, and the bird requires to be heavily 

 hit to bring it down. The cry is very peculiar and sonorous, 

 and not easy to describe. It has been compared by Mr. 

 Darwin to the neighing of a guanaco, but in this I cannot 

 agree with him. Those specimens examined by the above- 

 mentioned distinguished naturalist had "grasshoppers, 

 cicadae, small lizards, and even scorpions," in their stomachs ; 



