have been positively told, that four or five hen birds have been
actually watched and seen to go, in the middle of the day, one after the
other, to the same nest. I may add, also, that it is believed in Africa,
that two or more females lay in one nest.[27] Although this habit at
first appears very strange, I think the cause may be explained in a
simple manner. The number of eggs in the nest varies from twenty to
forty, and even to fifty; and according to Azara to seventy or eighty.
Now although it is most probable, from the number of eggs found in one
district being so extraordinarily great, in proportion to that of the
parent birds, and likewise from the state of the ovarium of the hen,
that she may in the course of the season lay a large number, yet the
time required must be very long. Azara states,[28] that a female in a
state of domestication laid seventeen eggs, each at the interval of
three days one from another. If the hen were obliged to hatch her own
eggs, before the last was laid, the first probably would be addled; but
if each laid a few eggs at successive periods, in different nests, and
several hens, as is stated to be the case, combined together, then the
eggs in one collection would be nearly of the same age. If the number of
eggs in one of these nests is, as I believe, not greater on an average
than the number laid by one female in the season, then there must be as
many nests as females, and each cock bird will have its fair share of
the labour of incubation; and this during a period when the females
probably could not sit, on account of not having finished laying.[29] I
have before mentioned the great numbers of huachos, or scattered eggs;
so that in one day’s hunting the third part found were in this state. It
appears odd that so many should be wasted. Does it not arise from some
difficulty in several females associating together, and in finding a
male ready to undertake the office of incubation? It is evident that
there must at first be some degree of association, between at least two
females; otherwise the eggs would remain scattered at distances far too
great to allow of the male collecting them into one nest. Some authors
believe that the scattered eggs are deposited for the young birds to
feed on. This can hardly be the case in America, because the huachos,
although often found addled and putrid, are generally whole.
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 47._
_Rhea Darwinii._
]
2. RHEA DARWINII. _Gould._
PLATE XLVII.
_Gould_, in Proceedings of Zoological Soc. 1837, p 35.
_R. pallide fusca, plumâ singulâ distinctâ semilunari notâ candidâ
terminatâ; capite collo, femoribusque pallidioribus: rostri culmine
augusti, ad apicem latiore, frontes plumis parvis setosis anticè
directis et supra nares extensis; tarsi lateribus in dimidiam partem
plumis parvis mollibus tectis; tarso ⅔ anticè posticeque toto,
squamis reticulatis tecto._
Long. tot. 52 unc.; _alæ_, 30; _tarsi_, 11; _rostri_, 2.
The whole of the plumage light brown, each feather with a decided
crescent-shaped mark of pure white at the extremity; head, neck, and
thighs lighter; base of the neck blackish; culmen of the bill
narrow, becoming a little broader towards apex; front with small
bristly feathers, pointing forwards and reaching over the nostrils.
Tarsus with small downy feathers on sides, extending half way
downwards; upper two-thirds of front of tarsus, and whole hinder
side, with reticulated scales.
Habitat, Eastern Patagonia (Lat. 40° S. to 54° S.)
This species, which Mr. Gould, in briefly characterizing it at a meeting
of the Zoological Society, has done me the honour of calling after my
name, differs in many respects from the _Rhea Americana_. It is smaller,
and the general tinge of the plumage is a light brown in place of grey;
each feather being conspicuously tipped with white. The bill is
considerably smaller, and especially less broad at its base; the culmen
is less than half as wide, and becomes slightly broader towards the
apex, whereas in the _R. Americana_ it becomes slightly narrower; the
extremity, however, of both the upper and the lower mandible, is more
tumid in the latter, than in the _R. Darwinii_.
R. Darwinii. R. Americana,
inches inches
Length of beak, from edge of membrane at
base to the apex 2 2⁶⁄₈
Length, from anterior margin of eye to apex 3⁴⁄₁₂ 5⁶⁄₁₂
Width of upper mandible, measured across
middle of nostrils 1¹⁄₂₀ 1⁶⁄₂₀
The skin round and in front of the eyes is less bare in _R. Darwinii_;
and small bristly feathers, directed forwards, reach over the nostrils.
The feet and tarsi are nearly of the same size in the two species. In
the _R. Darwinii_, short plumose feathers extend downwards in a point on
the sides of the tarsus, for about half its length. The upper two-thirds
of the tarsus, in front, is covered with reticulated scales in place of
the broad transverse band-like scales of the _R. Americana_; and the
scales of the lower third are not so large as in the latter. In the _R.
Darwinii_ the entire length of the back of the tarsus is covered with
reticulated scales, which increase in size from the heel upwards: in the
common _Rhea_, the scales on the hinder side of the tarsus are
reticulated only on the heel, and about an inch above it; all the upper
part consisting of transverse bands, similar to those in front.
The first notice I received of this species was at the Rio Negro, in
Northern Patagonia, where I repeatedly heard the Gauchos talking of a
very rare bird, called _Avestruz Petise_. They described it as being
less than the common ostrich (which is there abundant), but with a very
close general resemblance. They said its colour was dark and mottled,
and that its legs were shorter, and feathered lower down than those of
the common ostrich. It is more easily caught by the bolas than the other
species. The few inhabitants who had seen both kinds, affirmed that they
could distinguish them apart, from a long distance. The eggs, however,
of the small species appeared more generally known, and it was remarked
with surprise, that they were very little less than those of the common
_Rhea_, but of a slightly different form, and with a tinge of pale blue.
Some eggs which I picked up on the plains of Patagonia, agree pretty
well with this description; and I do not doubt are those of the Petise.
This species occurs most rarely in the neighbourhood of the Rio Negro;
but about a degree and a half further south they are tolerably abundant.
One Gaucho, however, told me he distinctly recollected having seen one,
many years before, near the mouth of the Rio Colorado, which is north of
the Rio Negro. They are said to prefer the plains near the sea. When at
Port Desire in Patagonia (Lat. 48°), Mr. Martens shot an ostrich; I
looked at it, and from most unfortunately forgetting at the moment, the
whole subject of the Petises, thought it was a two-third grown one of
the common sort. The bird was skinned and cooked before my memory
returned. But the head, neck, legs, wings, many of the larger feathers,
and a large part of the skin, had been preserved. From these a very
nearly perfect specimen has been put together, and is now exhibited in
the museum of the Zoological Society. M. A. D’Orbigny, a distinguished
French naturalist, when at the Rio Negro, made great exertions to
procure this bird, but had not the good fortune to succeed. He mentions
it in his Travels (vol. ii. p. 76.) and proposes (in case, I presume, of
his obtaining a specimen at some future time, and thus being able to
characterize it,) to call it _Rhea pennata_. A notice of this species
was given long since (A.D. 1749) by Dobrizhoffer, in his account of the
Abipones (vol. i. Eng. Trans. p. 314). He says, “You must know,
moreover, that Emus differ in size and habits in different tracts of
land; for those that inhabit the plains of Buenos Ayres and Tucuman are
larger, and have black, white, and grey feathers; those near to the
Strait of Magellan are smaller, and more beautiful, for their white
feathers are tipped with black at the extremity, and their black ones in
like manner terminate in white.”
Among the Patagonian Indians in the Strait of Magellan, we found a
half-bred Indian, who had lived some years with this tribe, but had been
born in the northern provinces. I asked him if he had ever heard of the
Avestruz Petise? He answered by saying, “Why there are none others in
these southern countries.” He informed me that the number of eggs in the
nest of the Petise is considerably less than with the other kind,
namely, not more than fifteen on an average; but he asserted that more
than one female deposited them. At Santa Cruz we saw several of these
birds. They were excessively wary: I think they could see a person
approaching, when he was so far off as not to distinguish the ostrich.
In ascending the river few were seen; but in our quiet and rapid
descent, many, in pairs and by fours or fives, were observed. It was
remarked by some of the officers, and I think with truth, that this bird
did not expand its wings, when first starting at full speed, after the
manner of the northern kind. The fact of these ostriches swimming across
the river has been mentioned. In conclusion, I may repeat that the _R.
Americana_ inhabits the eastern plains of S. America as far as a little
south of the Rio Negro, in lat. 41°, and that the _R. Darwinii_ takes
its place in Southern Patagonia; the part about the Rio Negro being
neutral territory. Wallis saw ostriches at Bachelor’s river (lat 53°
54′), in the Strait of Magellan, which must be the extreme southern
possible range of the Petise.
ORDER—GRALLATORES.
OREOPHILUS TOTANIROSTRIS. _Jard. & Selb._
Oreophilus totanirostris, _Jard. & Selb._ Illustr. of Orn. iii. pl. 151.
My specimens were obtained at Maldonado and at Valparaiso. At the
former, it was common, feeding on the open grassy plains in small
flocks, mingled with the icteri and the thrush-like _Xolmis variegata_.
When these birds rise on the wing, they utter a plaintive cry. Legs
“crimson red;” toes leaden colour, with their under surface remarkably
soft and fleshy. Iris dark brown.
CHARADRIUS VIRGININUS. _Borkh._
Charadrius virgininus, _Borkh._ Act. Acad. Cæs. Leop. Car. Nat. Cur.
1834. xvi. pl. 18.
Charadrius marmoratus, _Wagl._
This representative of the golden plover of Europe and North America, is
common on the banks of the Plata in large and small flocks. It is found
also, according to Meyer, in Chile.
1. SQUATAROLA CINCTA. _Jard. & Selby._
Tringa Urvillii, _Garnot_, Ann. Ic. Nat. Jan. 1826.
Vanellus cinctus, _Less._ Voy. de la Coqu. Zool. p. 720. pl. xliii.
Squatarola cincta, _Jard. & Selby’s_ Illust. Orn. pl. 110.
Charadrius rubecola, _Vig._ Journ. iv. p. 96.
I obtained specimens of this bird in Tierra del Fuego, where it
inhabited both the sea shore and the bare stony summits of the
mountains; at the Falkland Islands, where it frequented the upland
marshes; and at Chiloe, where I met with large flocks in the fields, not
near the coast.
2. SQUATAROLA FUSCA. _Gould._
_S. vertice corporeque supra fuscis, dorsi parapterique plumis
pallidiore marginatis; remigibus primariis nigrescenti fuscis,
pogoniis externis albo angustè marginatis rhachibus albis; uropygio
caudâque obscurè fuscis, remigibus externis albo latè marginatis et
terminatis; fronte, genis, gulâ, abdomine postico, caudæeque
tegminibus inferioribus flavescenti albis, colli pectorisque
lateribus fuscis, colli plumis fusco pallido terminatis; pedibus
nigris._
Long. tot. 8 unc.; _alæ_, 5⅝; _caudæ_, 3; _tarsi_, 1⅜; _rostri_, ⅞.
Crown of the head, all the upper surface brown, the feathers of the
back and the scapularies, margined with paler; primaries blackish
brown, finely edged on their inner margins with white, and with
white shafts; rump and tail dark brown, the outer feathers largely
margined and tipped with white; forehead and sides of the face sandy
white; throat, lower part of the abdomen, and under tail coverts,
buffy white; sides of the neck and chest brown; the feathers of the
latter tipped with still lighter brown; bill and feet black.
Habitat, Maldonado; inland grassy plains.
This species is most closely allied to the foregoing. I obtained only
one specimen, which, on comparison with several of the _S. cincta_,
appears a little larger in all its dimensions, especially in the length
of the tarsi. Its back and scapularies are of a more uniform brown, the
feathers being less edged with pale brown. Its feet are black, whereas
those of _S. cincta_ are brown.
PHILOMACHUS CAYANUS. _G. R. Gray._
Charadrius Cayanus, _Lath._ Ind. Orn. 11. 748.
I met with this bird from latitude 30° to 45° S. on both sides of S.
America. In La Plata it is called “Teru-tero,” in imitation of its cry;
and in Chile, according to Molina, “Theghel.” These birds, which in many
respects resemble in habits our peewits (_Vanellus cristatus_),
frequent, generally in pairs, open grassy land, and especially the
neighbourhood of lakes. As the peewit takes its name from the sound of
its voice, so does the teru-tero. While riding over the grassy plains,
one is constantly pursued by these birds, which appear to hate mankind,
and I am sure deserve to be hated, for their never-ceasing, unvaried,
harsh screams. The stillness of the night is often disturbed by them. To
the sportsman they are most annoying, by announcing to every other bird
and animal his approach: to the traveller in the country, they may
possibly, as Molina says, do good, by warning him of the midnight
robber. During the breeding season, they attempt, like our peewits, by
feigning to be wounded, to draw away from their nests dogs and other
enemies. Their eggs are of a pointed oval form; of a brownish olive
colour, thickly spotted with dark brown. Their eggs, like those of the
peewit, are esteemed particularly good eating.
1. HIATICULA AZARÆ. _G. R. Gray._
Charadrius Azaræ, _Temm._ pl. col. 184.
—— collaris, _Vieill._
Albatuitui à collier noir, _Azara_, No. 392.
My specimens were obtained on the banks of the Plata and at Valparaiso.
The specimen from the latter country differs from those procured at the
former, in the absence of the black collar on the breast, of the black
streak running from the eye to the corner of the mouth; in the plumage
of the back and back of head having a lesser tinge of red; and
especially in the feet being black, and tarsi blackish, instead of both
being orange, as is the case with those killed on the shores of the
Plata. I have not, however, thought it desirable to make two species of
these birds, not having a larger series of specimens for comparison.
2. HIATICULA TRIFASCIATUS. _G. R. Gray._
Charadrius bifasciatus, _Licht._ Vog. Verz. p. 71.
—— trifasciatus, _Wagl._ Syst. Av. sp. 31.
I procured two specimens of this bird at Bahia Blanca, in Northern
Patagonia.
3. HIATICULA SEMIPALMATA. _G. R. Gray._
Tringa semipalmata, _Temm._
Charadrius semipalmatus, _Caup._ Isis. 1825, p. 1375, t. 14. _Wagl._
Syst. Av. sp. 23.
_Bonap._ Am. Orn. iv. pl. 25, f. 4.
Galapagos Archipelago.
HÆMATOPUS PALLIATUS. _Temm._
Rio Plata.
EGRETTA LEUCE. _Bonap._
Ardea Leuce, Ill.
Ardea Egretta, _Wils._ Am. Orn. pl. 61, f. 4.
My specimen was procured at Maldonado. I saw it also in Patagonia.
ARDEA HERODIAS. _Linn._
Galapagos Archipelago. Frequents the sea-coast and salt-lagoons. There
are no fresh water pools in any of these islands.
1. NYCTICORAX VIOLACEUS. _Bonap._
Ardea violacea, _Linn._
Ardea callocephala, _Wagl._ Syst. Av.
Mr. G. R. Gray has thought it advisable to give the following
description of this specimen, from the Gallapagos Archipelago. It
appears to be a young bird, and is small in all its dimensions.
Upper part blackish grey; each feather marked down the middle with a
broad stripe of black, and tinged on the margins with shining bronze
brown; beneath the body blueish grey, with the front of the neck,
top of the head, and margins of the feathers on the thighs rufous;
the sides of the head and throat deep black, the former divided in
the middle on each side with a patch of white; the bill black, and
feet of a pale reddish colour.
2. NYCTICORAX AMERICANUS. _Bonap._
Ardea nycticorax, _Wils._ (young bird.)
Valparaiso, Chile.
THERISTICUS MELANOPS. _Wagl._
Ibis melanops, _Lath._ Hist. ix. pl. 150.
This bird frequents the desert gravelly plains of Patagonia, as far
south as lat. 48°: in the British Museum there are specimens which
Captain Clapperton brought from central Africa; so that this bird has an
extraordinarily wide range. It generally lives in pairs, but during part
of the year in small flocks. Its cry is very singular and loud: when it
is heard at a distance it closely resembles the neighing of the guanaco.
I opened the stomach of two specimens, and found in them remains of
lizards, cicadæ, and scorpions. It builds in rocky cliffs on the sea
shore: egg dirty white, freckled with pale reddish brown; its
circumference over longer axis is seven inches. The legs are carmine and
scarlet-red: iris scarlet-red.
IBIS (FALCINELLUS) ORDI. _Bonap._
Tantalus Mexicanus, _Ord._ Journ. Acad. Phil.
Tantalus chalcopterus? _Temm._
Ibis Falcinellus, _Bonap._ Am. Orn. iii.
My specimen was obtained at the Rio Negro: it is very numerous in large
flocks on the vast swampy plains between Bahia Blanca and Buenos Ayres.
Its flight when soaring is singularly graceful; the whole flock moving
in precise concert.
1. NUMENIUS HUDSONICUS. _Lath._
Numenius Hudsonicus, _Lath._ Ind. Orn. ii. 712.
This curlew is very abundant on the tidal mud-banks of Chiloe. When the
flock rises, each bird utters a shrill note.
2. NUMENIUS BREVIROSTRIS. _Licht._
Numenius brevirostris, _Licht._ Cat. 75, sp. 774 a.
Buenos Ayres.
LIMOSA HUDSONICA. _Swains._
Scolopax Hudsonica, _Lath._ Ind. Orn. ii. 720.
My specimens were obtained from the Falkland Islands and from Chiloe,
where it frequented the tidal mud-banks in flocks.
1. TOTANUS FLAVIPES. _Vieill._
Totanus flavipes, _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. 1106.
Yellow shanks snipe, _Penn._ Arct. Zool. ii. 468.
—— _Wills._ Am. Orn. pl. 58. f. 4.
Monte Video, Rio Plata.
2. TOTANUS MACROPTERUS. _G. R. Gray._
Tringa macroptera, _Spix_, Av. n. sp. pl. 92.
Monte Video, Rio Plata.
3. TOTANUS MELANOLEUCOS. _Licht. et Vieill._
Scolopax melanoleuca, _Gmel._
Scolopax vociferus, _Wils._ Am. Orn. pl. 58, f. 5.
Chorlito à croupion blanc, _Azara_, No. 394.
Totanus solitarius, _Vieill._
White-rumped snipe, _Lath._
Maldonado, Rio Plata.
4. TOTANUS FULIGINOSUS. _Gould._
_T. corpore supra caudâque fuliginoso-griseis; alis fuscis; gutture
albo; pectore
hypochondriisque plumbeo-griseis; abdomine medio, caudæ tegminibus
inferioribus
albis, illis obscure, bis plane grisescenti fusco fasciatis; rostri
rubescenti fusco;
pedibus obscurè olivaceo fuscis._
Long. tot. 9½ unc.; _alæ_, 6⅝; _caudæ_, 3; _tarsi_, 1¼; _rostri_, ⅝.
The whole of the upper surface and tail sooty-grey; wings dull brown;
throat white; chest and flanks leaden grey; centre of the abdomen
and under tail coverts white, the former indistinctly, and the
latter distinctly, barred with greyish brown; bill, reddish brown;
feet, dark olive brown.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago (_October_).
This species appear quite distinct from any described one.
HIMANTOPUS NIGRICOLLIS. _Vieill._
Himantopus nigricollis, _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. 340.
Recurvirostra himantopus, _Wils._ Am. Orn. pl. 58. f. 2.
My specimens were obtained from the provinces bordering the Plata. On
the great swampy plains and fens which lie between Buenos Ayres and
Bahia Blanca, it is very numerous in small, and occasionally, in large
flocks. This plover, which appears as if mounted on stilts, has been
wrongfully accused of inelegance; when wading about in shallow water,
which is its favourite resort, its gait is far from awkward. In a flock
it utters a noise, which singularly resembles the cry of a pack of small
dogs in full chase: when I travelled across the above mentioned plains,
I was more than once startled, when lying awake at night, at the distant
sound, and thought the wild Indians were coming.
TRINGA RUFESCENS. _Vieill._
Tringa rufescens, _Vieill._, N. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. 34. p. 470.
—— Ency. Meth. Orn. p. 1090.
—— Gal. des Ois. pl. 238.
—— _Yarrel_, Lin. Trans.
—— _Gould_; Birds of Europe, pl.
Monte Video, Rio Plata.
1. PELIDNA SCHINZII. _Bonap._
Tringa Schinzii, _Brehm. Bonap._ Am. Orn. iv. pl. 24. f. 2.
Pelidna cinclus, var. _Say._
Flocks of this species were common on the shores of the inland bays in
the southern parts of Tierra del Fuego.
2. PELIDNA MINUTILLA. _Gould._
Tringa minutilla, _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. 1089.
Galapagos Archipelago. Both the specimens which I procured here are
smaller than the ordinary size of this bird, but do not differ in other
respects. Vieillot says it ranges from the Antilles to Canada.
RHYNCHÆA SEMICOLLARIS. _G. R. Gray._
Totanus semicollaris, _Vieill._, Ency. Meth. p. 1100.
Rhynchæa Hilairea, _Valenc. Less._ Ill. de Zool. pl. 18.
Rhynchæa occidentalis, _King_, Zool. Journ. iv. 94.
Le chorlito a demi colliers blanc et noiratre, _Azara_, No. 409.
Monte Video, Rio Plata. Frequents swamps; habits like the Scolopax
Gallinago.
1. SCOLOPAX (TELMATIAS) PARAGUAIÆ. _Vieill._
Scolopax Paraguai, _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. p. 1160.
—— Brasiliensis, _Swains_, Faun. Bor. Am. Birds, p. 400.
Becassine 1st Espece, _Azara_.
Valparaiso and Maldonado, Rio Plata.
2. SCOLOPAX (TELMETIAS) MAGELLANICUS. _King._
Scolopax Magellanicus, _King_, Zool. Journ.
My specimens were obtained from Maldonado and East Falkland Island.
Flight a very little less irregular and rapid than the English snipe. I
several times in May observed this, as well as the foregoing species,
flying in lofty circles, and suddenly stooping downwards, at the same
time that it uttered a peculiar drumming noise, similar to that made by
the English snipe in summer, when breeding. This species is most closely
allied to the foregoing, but I have no doubt it is distinct; because at
the time when I procured specimens of both at Maldonado, I perceived a
difference between them. This species is there more abundant than the
_S. Paraguaiæ_. Its beak is nearly three-tenths of an inch shorter, and
the culmen rather broader. The plumage of its back is of a decidedly
less dark tint; each separate feather having much less black in it.
STREPSILAS INTERPRES. _Ill._
Tringa Morinellus, _L._
I obtained specimens from Iquique, on the coast of Peru, and from the
Galapagos Archipelago.
CREX LATERALIS. _Licht._
Crex lateralis, _Licht._, Cat. p.
—— _Griff._ An. King. Aves.
Maldonado, Rio Plata. On being disturbed readily takes wing. Base of the
bill, especially of the lower mandible, bright green.
1. ZAPORNIA NOTATA. _Gould._
PLATE XLVIII.
_Z. corpore toto supra nigrescenti-fusco, plumâ singulâ medio
albo-guttatâ et olivaceo-fusco latè marginatâ; remigibus fuscis,
mento albo, corpore infra fuscescenti-nigro, gutture pectoreque
albo-striatis; abdomine tegminibusque caudæ inferioribus albo
irregulariter transverè strigato; rostro obscure corneo; pedibus
olivaceo-viridibus._
Long. tot. 5⅝ unc.; _alæ_, 3¼; _caudæ_, 1⅜; _tarsi_, ⅞; _rostri_, ½.
The whole of the upper surface blackish brown, each feather spotted
with white down the centre, and largely margined with olive brown;
quills plain brown; chin white; the remainder of the under surface
brownish black, striated with white on the throat and chest, and
crossed by irregular bars of the same on the abdomen and under tail
coverts; bill dark horn colour; feet olive green.
Habitat, Rio Plata. (Shot on board the Beagle.)
2. ZAPORNIA SPILONOTA. _Gould._
PLATE XLIX.
_Z. capite corporeque infra, nigrescenti-griseis; corpore supra
obscure rubrofusco, uropygio obscurè grisescenti-nigro; alis
hypochondriis postice, tegminibusque caudæ inferioribus albo
parciter sparsis; rostro nigrofusco; pedibus rubescentibus; iridibus
carmineis._
Long. tot. 5¼ unc.; _alæ_, 2¾; _caudæ_, 1; _tarsi_, ⅞; _rostri_, ¾.
Head and all the under surface blackish grey; all the upper surface
dark reddish brown, fading off on the rump into deep greyish black;
the wings, hinder part of the flanks, and under tail coverts
slightly sprinkled with white; bill, blackish brown; feet, reddish;
iris, bright scarlet.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago.
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 48._
_Zapornia notata._
]
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 49._
_Zapornia spilonota._
]
This bird frequents in large numbers the high and damp summits of the
islands. It lives in the thick beds of carex and other plants, which,
from the condensed vapour of the clouds, are constantly kept rather
humid. It is tame, but lives concealed; it often utters a loud and
peculiar cry. The female is said to lay from eight to twelve eggs. It
is, I believe, the only bird in this archipelago which is exclusively
confined to the upper parts of the islands. With respect to the specific
description, I must observe, that in one of the specimens, the few and
small white spots on the wings and abdomen are wanting. This is not a
sexual distinction, but possibly may be owing to immaturity.
1. RALLUS PHILLIPENSIS. _Linn._
Common on the low coral islets, forming the Keeling or Cocos Atoll in
the Indian ocean. With the exception of a snipe, this was the only bird
without webfeet which inhabited this group.
2. RALLUS YPECAHA. _Vieill._
Rallus ypecaha, _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. p. 1071.
Crex melampyga, _Licht._ Cat. Sp.
L’Ypacaha, _Azara_, No. 367.
Buenos Ayres.
3. RALLUS SANGUINOLENTUS. _Swains._
Rallus sanguinolentus, _Swains_, 2 cent. and a quart.
Valparaiso.
GALLINULA CRASSIROSTRIS. _J. E. Gray._
Gallinula crassirostris, _J.E. Gray_, in Griff. An. Kingd.
I obtained specimens on the banks of the Plata and at Valparaiso.
FULICA GALEATA. _G. R. Gray._
Crex galeata, _Licht._ Cat. 80. sp. 826.
Yahana proprement dit, _Azara_, No. 379.
Gallinula galeata, _Bonap._
Concepcion, Chile.
PORPHYRIO SIMPLEX. _Gould._