Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

S6 STEAMER-DUCK. Feb. 1827. It would not be an exaggeration to state its speed at from twelve to fifteen miles an hour. The peculiar form of the wing, and the short rigid feathers which cover it, together with the power this bird possesses of remaining a considerable length of time under water, constitute it a striking link between the genera Anas and Aptenodytes. It has been noticed by many former navigators. The largest we found measured forty inches, from the extremity of the bill, to that of the tail, and weighed thirteen pounds ; but Captain Cook mentions, in his second voyage, that the weight of one was twenty-nine pounds.* It is very difficult to kill them, on account of their wariness and thick coat of feathers, which is impenetrable by any thing smaller than swan shot. The flavour of their flesh is so strong and fishy, that at first we killed them solely for specimens. Five or six months, however, on salt provisions, taught many to think such food palatable, and the seamen never lost an opportunity of eating them. I have preferred these ducks to salt-beef, but more as a preventive against scurvy, than from liking their taste. I am averse to altering names, particularly in natural his- tory, without very good reason, but in this case I do think the name of ' steamer' much more appropriate, and descriptive of the swift paddling motion of these birds, than that of ' race- horse.' I believe, too, the name of ' steamer' is now generally given to it by those who have visited these regions. Many shells-f were taken from the bottom by means of a fiz- gig which Mr. Tarn found in one of the wigwams : it was a * Cook's Second Voj'age, 4to. p. 570. + On the shores of Eagle Bay we procured a larg-e collection of shells, among which were Margarita violacea (Nob. in Zool. Journ. v. 346, No. 53), a beautiful Modiola (M. trapesina, Lam.*), a new Pecten (P. vitreus Nob. in Zool. Jour. V. 337, No. 17), and a delicate transparent-shelled Patella, answering the description of P. cymhularia. These four species were found attached to floating leaves of the kelp (Fuciis giganteus), and afford food to the steamer-duck. We also collected good specimens of Murex Magellanicus, Lam.'', of Fis.mrella picta. Lam.*, and a great number of the common patella of the Strait, which forms a considerable article of food for the Natives.