Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle Part 50

_Cauda, subelongata, gradata._

_Pedes, fortes: tarsis subelongatis, in fronte scutellatis; digitis unguibusque elongatis, hic fortioribus subcompressis; halluce fortissimo, inc.u.mbente._

This genus appears to have some resemblance to MM. Quoy and Gaimard's genus _Megapodius_: but no specimen of it being in this country, and my bird differing in essential points from its generic characters, particularly in the length and form of the wings, which in my bird are rounded, and so short as not to reach beyond the base of the tail, I have formed it into a new genus, for which the term Hylactes (from its note, which very much resembles the sharp bark of a dog) has been selected.

32. HYLACTES TARNII.--n.o.b. in Proceedings of Zool. Soc.

_Hyl. saturate fus...o...b..unneus; fronte, dorso, abdomineque rufis, hoc fusco fasciato._

At Chiloe and Port Otway, in the Gulf of Penas.

The specific name I have selected is in compliment to Mr. John Tarn, surgeon of the Adventure, to whose attention, in procuring and preserving numerous specimens in ornithology, I am greatly indebted.

33. STRUTHIO RHEA.--Lin. (223.)

The American ostrich. Maldonado.

34. COLUMBA FITZ ROYII.--n.o.b. in Proceedings of Zool. Soc.

_Col. binacea; alis, dorso imo, caudaque plumbeis, hujus fascia remigibusque atris: nuchae plumis viridi-splendentibus; fascia occipitali alba._

In the woods of Chiloe.

Dedicated to Captain Robert Fitz Roy, who succeeded to the command of H.M.S. Beagle upon the death of Captain Stokes. {537}

35. COLUMBA MERIDIONALIS.--n.o.b. in Zool. Journal, iv. 92.

_Col. brunnescenti-plumbea, subtus rufescens; colli lateribus purpureo nitore splendentibus, genis pennisque secundariis nigro maculatis, rectricibus apice griseo fasciaque sub-apicali nigra._

Length, 9 inches.

36. ARDEA.--Sp. One of the night bitterns.

37. ARDEA MAJOR.--Bonat., E. M. 1148.

Port Otway, Gulf of Penas.

38. IBIS MELANOPIS.--Bonat., E. M. 1148.

Port San Julian.

In the Ency. Meth. the length of the bird is stated to be 21 inches, but in the Dict. d'Histoire Naturelle 27 inches is given, which is correct.

39. TOTa.n.u.s FUSCUS?

40. SCOLOPAX MAGELLANICUS.--n.o.b. in Zool. Jour. iv. 93.

_Scol. supra brunneus, rufo fulvo nigroque maculatus undulatusque; abdomine medio albo; pectore brunneo rufoque sparso; tarsis brevibus._

The length of the bird from the front to the end of the tail is 8 inches; of the beak 2; of the wing, from the carpal joint to the end of the quill feather, 5; of the tail 2; and of the _tarsi_ 1-1/16.

Strait of Magalhaens.

41. RHYNCHaeA OCCIDENTALIS.--n.o.b. in Zool. Jour. iv. 94.

_Rhync. supra brunnea, capite summo pectore alisque saturatioribus, fulvo undulata strigataque; abdomine, macula utrinque pectorali, maculisque alarum, albis, stringa frontali brunnea._

The length of the bird from the forehead to the end of the tail is seven inches; of the bill 1-3/8; of the wing from the carpal joint to the extremity of the first quill feather, 4; of the _tarsus_ 1-5/16; of the tail 1.

Strait of Magalhaens.

This bird may be considered as one of the most interesting acquisitions made in our voyage. The singular and strongly marked genus has been hitherto considered peculiar to the Old World; and two species only having been discovered, an additional species from the New World is an important accession to science. The form of our Magellanic bird accords accurately with that of the Old World species, the bill being distinguished chiefly by its {538} inferior length. The general appearance of the plumage also is similar, although it possesses sufficiently distinctive characters to authorize this species being separated from the other.

42. RALLUS SETOSUS.--n.o.b. in Zool. Journ. iv. 94.

_Rall. supra brunneus, dorso alisque nigro notatis, subtus plumbeus; remigibus primariis rectricibusque fuscis, his saturatioribus; fronte setoso._

The length of the bird from the forehead to the extremity of the tail is 10 inches; of the bill 1-15/16; of the wing, from the carpal joint to the end of the second quill feather, 4-7/8; of the tail 3; of the _tarsus_ 1-5/8.

43. RALLUS ANTARCTICUS. n.o.b. in Zool. Jour. iv. 95.

_Rall. supra brunneus, nigro strigatus; subtus plumbeus, femorum tectricibus crissoque atris, albo-fasciatis._

The length of the body is 7 inches; of the bill 1; of the wing, from the carpal joint to the end of the second quill feather, 3; of the tail, 1; of the _tarsus_ 15/16.

44. FULICA CHLOROPODES.--n.o.b. in Zool. Journ. iv. 95.

_Ful. capite, coll. superiore, caudaque atris; corpore reliquo atro-fusco, crisso albo._

The length of the body is 15 inches; of the bill 1; of the wing, from the carpal joint to the extremity of the second quill feather, 6; of the tail 3; of the _tarsi_ 2.

45. FULICA GALLINULODES.--n.o.b. in Zool. Jour. iv. 96.

_Ful. atro-fusca; dorso saturatiore, capite atro, gula albo-notata crisso albo, rostro angusto, in frontem parum extendente._

46. CHIONIS ALBA.--Forster.

Seen at Cape Horn, and at sea, four hundred miles from the nearest land.

Captain Foster, of H.M.S. Chanticleer, saw some at South Shetland.

47. HaeMATOPUS PALLIATUS.--Temminck.

Strait of Magalhaens.

48. HaeMATOPUS LEUCOPUS.--Gam.

Strait of Magalhaens.