STEAMER DUCK 293 



trickles of fresh water coming down the rocks. All round these spots the ground was 

 trampled down and covered with the tracks of Steamer Ducks, and between every 7 

 tide the fresh tracks of the birds could be seen imprinted in the sand leading from 

 the sea and back to it. The tracks of broods were never seen at these places, but on 

 one occasion in Jan. 1924 a pair of old birds with four downy young were discovered 

 at the head of one of the largest caves. The male and two young broke past in the 

 dark but the female was struck by a native with a stick and two of the young 

 caught. All three were kept by one of the inhabitants of Ancud for some weeks but 

 the female had been injured by the stick and eventually they all died. 



"The natives say that the old birds go to these springs to drink fresh water and that 

 they take their young to the caves to roost. That they nest on occasion in the caves 

 is evident from several old nests which were seen, but it seems improbable that such 

 a marine duck as a Steamer Duck requires fresh water. I noticed that there was a 

 fine green slime where the water dripped down the rock and on one occasion saw a 

 pair of old birds in another locality apparently 'grazing' on a large sloping face of 

 rock where on subsequent inspection nothing could be seen but this same green 

 slime. Whatever be the explanation of these extended peregrinations on dry land 

 they constitute an interesting, and as far as sea ducks are concerned, unique habit 

 in my experience." 



Gait. Steamer Ducks are rather frequently seen on land, getting out on the 

 rocks to bask in the sun or coming ashore on beaches. I have a number of photo- 

 graphs taken by W. S. Brooks in the Falklands showing groups of these ducks in 

 resting positions, and from one of these Allan Brooks has taken suggestions for his 

 admirable plate. Mr. Blaauw also photographed them standing or squatting on 

 rocks in Tierra del Fuego. They come ashore also for nesting purposes and neither 

 the gait nor the resting position is especially clumsy or upright. 



Swtacmixg and DrvrxG. On the water this duck is particularly active and agile. 

 TV. S. Brooks (MS.) says they swim very low, like a Loon, with the little tail sticking 

 up in a very 7 ludicrous way. In diving they are especially expert (Blaauw, 1921), 

 though they make considerable noise going under (W. S. Brooks, MS.). Ordinarily 

 they stay in rather shallow water, often actually in the surf, when they show excellent 

 judgment in diving through breakers if necessary (TV. S. Brooks). It seems, however, 

 that they cannot stay under very long, and they rarely resort to diving when pursued, 

 excepting occasionally to dip under, only to come up again in a different direction. 

 On such occasions they are said to come up with body submerged (Beck, MS.). 



There is no doubt that individuals can fly at times for a long distance, over both 

 land and water. Beck saw them cover at least a mile near the south end of Chiloe 

 Island. Some of these flew heavily while others went into the air and flew perfectly 

 well. Most of these volant birds weighed from five and a half to seven pounds. 



