PERU'S WEALTH-PRODUCING BIRDS 



557 



rises in flight direct 

 for the sea ; another, 

 coming from the 

 o c e a n, disappears 

 mysteriously into the 

 ground to replace a 

 complaining mate. 



When taken from 

 the burrows, the little 

 bird is found to meas- 

 ure ten inches in 

 length and to weigh 

 half a pound. The 

 general color is black 

 above and white be- 

 low, while beneath the 

 feathers is found a 

 thick, gray down. The 

 dense coat gives an 

 appearance of large 

 size to the body, while 

 the little wings and 

 short, stout neck 

 seem disproportion- 

 ately small append- 

 ages. When its body 

 is flattened out on the 

 ground, this diving 

 petrel strangely sug- 

 gests a feathered ter- 

 rapin. 



Off the Peninsula 

 of Paracas, near Pisco 

 and just across the 

 "Narrows," is the 

 lofty San Gallan, 

 marked by several 

 peaks that reach an 

 altitude of 1,200 to 

 1,400 feet. The tops 

 of these hills are more 

 or less concealed by 

 clouds, which serve as 

 Nature's weather signals to the local 

 mariner. "When San Gallan puts on its 

 cap" of heavy clouds, the prudent sailor 

 avoids the Narrows and delays his south- 

 ward trip. Here was the preeminent 

 home of these diving petrels, or "poto- 

 yuncos," as the Peruvians euphoniously 

 call them. From the lower desert slopes 

 of San Gallan's hills to the verdant cloud- 

 bathed peaks, everywhere were large 

 patches of ground undermined by short 

 burrows. 



Small as the "potoyunco" is, the guano 

 from its nests is valued for its high 



THE YOUNG PATILEOS IN IMMATURE PLUMAGE ARE WEEE 

 CONCEALED AGAINST THE GRAY BACK- 

 GROUND OF THE ROCKS 



Because of its high-pitched, cheeping note, this species of cormo- 

 rant is sometimes called "chiquitoy," or "chuita," suggesting a song- 

 bird. 



quality. Unfortunately, the meat is like- 

 wise esteemed by the native fishermen 

 and laborers, and the array of discarded 

 wings strewn about many of their nesting 

 places reveals the occurrence of ruthless 

 depredations. Unless effective measures 

 be taken to prevent, the potoyunco will 

 gradually but surely incur the fate of the 

 penguin and other birds whose habits 

 and defenselessness lay them open to de- 

 struction. 



A tropical penguin may seem another 

 Peruvian paradox. Nevertheless, pen- 

 guins are quite common on the coast of 



