The S t e a m e r - D Li c k 



55 



taincd b\' a careful inspection of the condition of the 

 skeleton, and other points in the structure of the volant 

 specimens (the plumage of ^\■hich entirely corresponded 

 with King's short description o'i Micivftenis falaLhoiiit!is\ 

 that the)- were all immature indi\-iduals (probabl\- the \oung 

 of the year), and ha\-ing as invariably found that the 

 non-volant specimens were full-grown birds. 



" The average length of the adult birds may be stated as 

 about thirt)' inches, and I do not think that I e\-cr met with 

 specimens measuring more than three feet from the tip of 

 the bill to the tip of the tail, so that I am inclined to believe 

 that the specimen mentioned b_\- King as fortv inches in 

 length was of exceptional size, and I feel no doubt that 

 there must have been some mistake as regards the birds 

 stated by Cook to weigh twent_\'-nine pounds. 



" The Steamer-Duck is \-er3- plentiful on the shores of 

 the Falkland Islands, in the Strait of Magellan, and in the 

 channels of Western Patagonia, as well as at Chiloc, which 

 is the northernmost localit}- where I have seen it. It is 

 generall)- to be observed in pairs, or small flocks of six or 

 seven individuals, stationed on the rocks, or swimming 

 about in the extensi\-c beds of the 'kelp,' which girdles the 

 coast in most spots ; but, cccasionalh', large flocks com- 

 posed of many hundreds arc to be met with, ^\'hen 

 undisturbed in the water they swim quietl_\- along, producing 

 two peculiar notes — that of the male being a sort of mew 

 rapidly repeated, \\\\\\e that of the female is a kind of deep 

 growl — and diligentl}- searching the fronds of the kelp for 

 the animals to be found thereon, or di\"ing for mussels, 

 which appear to be one of their staple articles of diet, as I 

 alwa^-s found fragments of the shells in the stomachs of 

 those which I examined. The stomach is a most powerful 

 organ, with \ery thick muscular coats, and the lower part 

 of the windpipe or trachea of the male possesses an enlarge- 

 ment of considerable size. This, which is likewise to be 



