Oct. 1835. 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



461 



In my collections from these islands^ Mr. Gould considers 

 that there are twenty-six different species of land birds. 

 With the exception of one^ all probably are undescribed 

 kinds, which inhabit this archipelago, and no other part of 

 the world. Among the waders and waterfowl it is more 

 difficult, without detailed comparison, to say what are new. 

 But a water-sail which lives near the summits of the moun- 

 tains, is undescribed, as perhaps is a Totanus and a heron. 

 The only kind of gull which is found among these islands, 

 is also new ; when the wandering habits of this genus are 

 considered, this is a very remarkable circumstance. The 

 species most closely allied to it, comes from the Strait of 

 Magellan. Of the other aquatic birds, the species appear 

 the same with well-known American birds. 



The general character of the plumage of these birds is 

 extremely plain, and like the Flora possesses little beauty. 

 Although the species are thus peculiar to the archipelago, 

 yet nearly all in their general structure, habits, colour of 

 feathers, and even tone of voice, are strictly American. 

 The following brief list will give an idea of their kinds. 

 1st. A buzzard, having many of the characters of Poly- 

 borus or Caracara ; and in its habits not to be distinguished 

 from that peculiar South American genus ; 2d. Two owls ; 

 .Sd. Three species of tyrant- flycatchers — a form strictly 

 American. One of these appears identical with a common 

 kind (Miiscicapa coronatal Lath.), which has a very wide 

 range, from La Plata throughout Brazil to Mexico ; 4th. A 

 sylvicola, an American form, and especially common in 

 the northern division of the continent ; 5th. Three species 

 of mocking-birds, a genus common to both Americas ; 

 6th. A finch, with a stiff tail and a long claw to its hinder 

 toe, closely allied to a North American genus ; 7th. A 

 swallow belonging to the American division of that genus ; 

 8th. A dove, like, but distinct from, the Chilian species; 

 9th. A group of finches, of which Mr. Gould considers 

 there are thirteen species ; and these he has distributed into 

 four new sub-genera. These birds are the most singular of 



