Abstract
AS regards the publication of results achieved by the naturalists accompanying the recent Transit expedition, our American friends appear to be getting the start of us. While we are engaged in issuing “preliminary reports,” they have already arranged and classified their collections, and are beginning to publish their discoveries. The specimens of birds obtained by Dr. Kidder, surgeon and naturalist attached to the astronomical party at Kerguelen's Land, or Desolation Island, have been placed for determination in the hands of Dr. E. Cones —one of the most competent zoologists in the United States—and the result has been the very interesting memoir now before us. We knew already that Kerguelen's Land was not an inviting place of residence for the more highly organised animals, and that few birds were to be found there. We know now what those few are, and have full particulars about most of them, their lives, and habits. According to Dr. Coues' determination, Dr. Kidder's collection contains examples of twenty-one species of this class, belonging to six families, namely, eleven Petrels, four Penguins, three Gulls, a Cormorant, a Duck, and a Sheath-bill. Of these, the two last-named are “the only partial vegetable feeders observed, all the other birds feeding exclusively on flesh, fish, or marine invertebrates.” Of the Chionis, or Sheath-bills, a singular abnormal form related to the Plovers, of which there are (or were lately) living specimens in the Zoological Society's Gardens, Dr. Kidder might well have sung, in the words of the old song, “their tameness is shocking to me.” “They would scarcely get out of my way,” says the Doctor, “and seemed greatly interested in my movements. When I sat on a stone, keeping perfectly still, the whole party, twelve in all, came up to examine the intruder. They walked all around me, coming almost within reach; others flying up from more distant rocks to join them, and finally stopped, almost in a semi-circle, for a good stare. After watching the birds for a time, I shot four specimens, not without compunction, on account of killing such trustful acquaintances. When I walked off to get a sufficient distance away for a shot, the whole troop started to follow me, making little runs and stopping, as if filled with curiosity. I shot all four without moving from the spot, reloading for each, the birds not all flying out of range even after the gun had been fired. On subsequent occasions, various members of the party captured specimens by hand; all that was necessary to attract them within reach being to remain perfectly still. After one had been caught it served as a lure for others. When taken home alive they still showed no fear, but when let loose in the house took food readily.”
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The Birds of Kerguelen's Land 1 . Nature 14, 317–318 (1876). https://doi.org/10.1038/014317b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/014317b0