Page:An account of a voyage to establish a colony at Port Philip in Bass's Strait.djvu/234

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( 209 )

we conjectured that they must afford many good harbours. The day after rounding Cape Horn, we passed Staten Land, of which we had a complete view; from end to end, than which nothing could, appear more desolate and unfriendly.

Off the coast of Patagonia three land-birds lighted on board, and were caught; the body resembled that of the crow, its length eighteen inches, the bill one inch and a half, the feathers of the head forming a bunch over the forehead, the plumage & beautiful snowy white, the legs and claws black. When caught, they almost immediately became domesticated, and fed on meat. They lived about six weeks, and appeared to be killed by the excessive heat of the weather[1].

  1. These appear to be the birds described by Captain Cook.
After