Page:The birds of Tierra del Fuego - Richard Crawshay.djvu/232

112 Darwin never observed these birds on the wing, as he says:—"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. When pluming themselves in the evening in a flock they make an odd mixture of sounds, somewhat like bull-frogs within the Tropics."

Capt. Abbott maintains two species. Of M, cinereus he says:—"This Duck frequents salt water. The harbour of Stanley is full of them, as well as every other part of the coast. Each pair has a certain district, where they take up their quarters, diving for shell-fish and whatever the tide throws up, and driving away any other of their species that may come within their bounds. This Duck lays from the end of September to the end of November, making its nest either in the long grass or bush of some kind. Whenever a male bird is seen by himself on the water during the breeding season, the female will be found sitting somewhere in a line perpendicular to the shore opposite to him, and generally not very far off". My dog once found seven nests, all with the old bird on, in a small grass valley a short way from the beach at Mare Harbour. Seven is the usual number of eggs, though sometimes eight or nine are found."

To M, patachonicus he ascribes the habit of frequenting rather the freshwater ponds near the sea, and of being somewhat more wary. Of this he shot one example, and found a nest with seven eggs. He saw "the flying Loggerhead take long flights."

Dr. Cunningham says:—"It is generally to be observed in pairs, or small flocks of six or seven individuals, stationed on the rocks, or swimming about in the extensive beds of the 'kelp,' which girdles the coast in most spots; but, occasionally large flocks, composed of many hundreds, are to be met with. When