The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle [vol. 3 of 5] : $b BirdsGould, John
Science
The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle [vol. 3 of 5] : $b Birds
Gould, John
Beagle Expedition (1831-1836); Birds; Zoology
My specimen was obtained at Iquique (lat. 20° 12′), on the coast of
Peru. M. Lesson, who first described this species, says (Manuel
d’Ornithologie, vol. ii. p. 394.), “Le _puffinure de Garnot_ habite par
grandes troupes le long des côtes du Pérou. Il vole médiocrement bien,
d’une manière précipitée et en rasant la mer; mais il préfère se tenir
en repos sur la surface des eaux, et plonge très frequemment à la
manière des grèbes, sans doute pour saisir les petits poissons qui
forment sa pâture.” An anatomical description of this bird is there
given.
1. PROCELLARIA GIGANTEA. _Gmel._
This bird, which is called by the English, “Nelly,” and by the
Spaniards, “Quebranta-huesos,” (properly an osprey,) is common in the
southern latitudes of South America. It frequents both the inland
sounds, and the open ocean far from the coast. It often settles and
rests on the water. The Nelly, in its flight and general appearance on
the wing, has many points of resemblance with the Albatross; but, as in
the case of that bird, it is in vain to attempt observing on what it
feeds; both seem to hunt the waters for days together, in sweeping
circles, with no success. In the stomach, however, of one which I
opened, there was the beak of a large cuttle-fish. The Nelly, moreover,
is a bird of prey: it was observed at Port St. Antonio, by some of the
officers of the Beagle, to kill a diver. The latter tried to escape,
both by diving and flying, but was continually struck down, and at last
was killed by a blow on its head. At Port St. Julian, also, these great
petrels were seen killing and devouring young gulls. The Nelly breeds on
several of the small islands off the coast of Patagonia; for instance,
Sea-Lion Island, in the mouth of the Santa Cruz. Most other species of
the family retire for the purpose of breeding to the Antarctic Islands.
I have often observed in the southern seas, a bird similar in every
respect to the Nelly, excepting in its plumage, being of a much more
intense black, and its bill rather whiter. I procured a specimen thus
coloured, at Port Famine, and had concluded that it was a distinct
species, until Mr. Low, (an excellent practical observer, long
acquainted during his sealing voyages with the productions of these
seas,) assured me that he positively knew, that these black varieties
were the one-year-old birds of the common greyish black Nelly.
2. PROCELLARIA GLACIALOÏDES. _A. Smith._
Procellaria glacialoïdes, _A. Smith_, Illust. of Zool. of S. Africa,
Aves, pl. 51.
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