2. Querquedula creccoïdes. Eyton.
Querquedula creccoïdes, Eyton, Monog. Anatidæ, p. 128.
Anas creccoides, King, Zool. Journ. iv. 99.
Mr. Gould observes that, “This species was first described by Mr. Vigors, from a specimen in the collection brought from the Straits of Magellan, by Capt. P. P. King. It is a true teal, and in size and form closely assimilates to the common teal of Europe, and to the species inhabiting North America (Querquedula Carolinensis, Bonap.) to both of which it is evidently an analogue, and doubtless represents those birds in the southern half of the American continent.” My specimens were procured from the Rio Plata, and from the Straits of Magellan.
Micropterus brachypterus. Eyton.
Micropterus brachypterus, Eyton, Monog. Anat. p. 144.
Anas brachytera, Lath., Ind. Orn. ii. 834.
These great logger-headed ducks, which sometimes weigh as much as twenty-two pounds, were called by the old navigators, from their extraordinary manner of paddling and splashing over the water, race-horses, but now much more properly steamers. Their wings are too small and weak to allow of flight, but by their aid, partly swimming and partly flapping the surface of the water, they move very quickly. The manner is something like that by which the common house duck escapes, when pursued by a dog; but I am nearly sure that the steamer moves its wings alternately, instead of, as in other birds, both together. These clumsy birds make such a noise and splashing, that the effect is most curious. The steamer is able to dive but a very short distance. It feeds entirely on shellfish from the floating kelp and tidal rocks; hence the beak and head are surprisingly heavy and strong, for the purpose of breaking them. So strong is the head, that I have sometimes scarcely been able to fracture it with my geological hammer; and all our sportsmen soon discovered how tenacious these birds were of life. When pluming themselves in the evening in a flock they make an odd mixture of sounds, somewhat like bull-frogs within the tropics.
1. Podiceps kalipareus. Quoy & Gaim.
My specimens were obtained from Bahia Blanca (September), Northern Patagonia, and the Falkland Islands. In the former place it lived in small flocks in the salt-water channels, extending between the great marshes at the head of the harbour. At the Falkland Islands I saw (March) very few individuals; and these only in one small fresh water lake. Tarsi of the same colour as the plumage of the back; iris of a beautiful tint, between “scarlet and carmine red;” pupil black. Mr. Gould remarks that, “This beautiful species of Podiceps is equal in size, and has many of the characters of the P. auritus, but is at once distinguished from that species by the silvery colouring of the plumes that adorn the sides of the head; which in P. auritus are deep chestnut.”