id the Strait of Magelhn. 



81 



■spite of appearances, of the same kind ^vith those which, in 

 autumn, retire from Europe, to enjoy a more temperate climate 

 ill their native country. 



Ttie singiuf^ and voice of these birds, and of all the other 

 sorts, have nothing in them very agreeable; so that our ears 

 were never much entertained by any sounds we heard to pro- 

 ceed from them. 



The Indians presented to the commander, Don A. Cordova, a 

 small humming-bird, dead and dried up, but Avith almost all its 

 feathers, in every respect similar to those found in the hottest 

 cJimatcs. It is difficult to explain whether that class of birds can 

 exist in such a country, seemingly so opposite to their nature ; 

 but, as we saw only this single bird, and that one dead, we could 

 not determine whether it had been driven by some accident to 

 this part of America, where it perished, or whether the clini3.te of 

 •^2° S. latitude be in reality so contrary to its nature as has been 

 'hitherto supposed. 



Birds of prey are not wanting in this region, which live by the 

 plunder and destruction of the weaker classes ; but of them we 

 are unable to furnish any proper information. 



Much more numerous, and considerable in point of utility, 

 are the aquatic birds. The geese, both the common and the 

 royal, are here found in great abundance, and are of an excel- 

 lent favour. 



Another kind of fowl, not less common, although their flesh 

 smells a little of shell-fish, but which is nevertheless tolerable 

 food, is found in the bays of the strait, and in the neiglibour- 

 hood of the rivulets. They are smaller than the geese, their 

 feathers black-and-white ; the beak scarlet, and long. They 

 are always seen in pairs; and, when pursued^ utter a very sin- 

 gular and particular kind of whistle. 



Tliere is also a prodigious number of another kind of geese, 

 called by our sailors lyaslavds^ because their tiesh is abominable 

 and insupportable: their feathers black-and-white, the neck 

 long, the head of moderate size, the beak yellow, the tail very 

 short ; their fiight not very rapid, and in general they fly in 

 -large flocks. 



The Mesh-birds, or bone-breakers, as thej^ are called, abound 

 in the strait; some of them extreuK'lj large. 



The sea-guils also are here in jjrodigions numbers, and 

 of many different sorts. The most beautiful is one not big- 

 ger than a large turtle; its head is black, the whole body 

 <ind witjgs of a dazzling whiteness, mixed with a few light black 

 strokes ; diamonds and rubies tiieniseives do not equal the bril- 

 liancy of its eyes, round the pupils of which is a ciixle 



Voyages and Travels., No, 5^ I'ol. II. u 



