36 



STEAMER-DUCK. 



Feb. 1827. 



It would not ]3e an exaggeration to state its speed at from twelve 

 to fifteen miles an hour. The peculiar form of the wing, and 

 the short rigid feathers which cover it, together with the power 

 this bird possesses of remaining a considerable length of time 

 under water, constitute it a striking link between the genera 

 Anas and Aptenodytes. It has been noticed by many former 

 navigators. The largest we found measured forty inches, 

 from the extremity of the bill, to that of the tail, and weighed 

 thirteen pounds; but Captain Cook mentions, in his second 

 voyage, that the weight of one was twenty-nine pounds.* It 

 is very difficult to kill them, on account of their wariness and 

 thick coat of feathers, which is impenetrable by any thing- 

 smaller than swan shot. The flavour of their flesh is so strong 

 and flshy, that at first we killed them solely for specimens. 

 Five or six months, however, on salt provisions, taught many 

 to think such food palatable, and the seamen never lost an 

 opportunity of eating them. I have preferred these ducks to 

 salt-beef, but more as a preventive against scurvy, than from 

 liking their taste. 



I am averse to altering names, particularly in natural his- 

 tory, without very good reason, but in this case I do think the 

 name of ' steamer' much more appropriate, and descriptive of 

 the swift paddling motion of these birds, than that of ' race- 

 horse.' I believe, too, the name of ' steamer' is now generally 

 given to it by those who have visited these regions. 



Many shells-]- were taken from the bottom by means of a fiz- 

 gig which Mr. Tarn found in one of the wigwams : it was a 



* Cook's Second Voyage, 4to. p. 570. 



t On the shores of Eagle Bay we procured a large collection of shells, 

 among which were Margarita violacea (Nob. in Zool. Journ. v. 346, No. 

 53), a beautiful Modiola (M. trapesina, Lam.'^), a new Pecten (P. vitreus 

 Nob. in Zool. Jour. v. 337, No. 17), and a delicate transparent-shelled 

 Patella, answering the description of P. cymhukma. These four species 

 were found attached to floating leaves of the kelp {Fucus giganteus), 

 and afford food to the steamer-duck. We also collected good specimens 

 of Mureoo Magellanicus, Lam."^, of Fissurella incta, Lam."^, and a great 

 number of the common patella of the Strait, which forms a considerable 

 article of food for the Natives. 



