OHAr. IX.] HABITS OF SOMi: BIRDS. 193 



thought inexplicable transportal of ilie erratic boulders, wliich 

 are strewed over tlie plains of Europe. 



I have little to remark on the zoology of tliese islands. I have 

 before described the carrion-vulture or Polvborus. There are 

 some other iiawks^ owls, and a few small land-birds. The water- 

 f)wl are particularly numerous, and they must formerly, from 

 the accounts of the old naviriators, have been mucii more so. 

 One day I observed a cormorant playing witli a fish whicli it had 

 caugiit. Eight times successively the bird let its prey go. then 

 dived after it, and altliough in deep water, brought it each time 

 to the surface. In the Zoolo^'ical Gardens I have seen the otter 

 treat a fisli in the same manner, much as a cat does a mouse: I 

 do not know of any otiier instance w here dame Isature appears 

 so wilfully cruel. Anotlier day, having placed myself between 

 a penguin (Aptenodytes demersa) and the water, I was much 

 amused by watching its habits. It was a brave bird ; and till 

 reaching the sea, it regularly fought and drove me backwards. 

 Notiiing less than heavy blows would have stopped him ; every 

 inch lie gained he firmly kept, standing close before me erect 

 and determined. Wiien thus opposed he continually rolled his 

 head from side to side, in a very odd manner, as if the power of 

 distinct vision lay only in the anterior and basal part of each 

 eye. This bird is commonly called the jackass pen-guin, from its 

 habit, while on shore, of throwing its head backwards, and 

 making a loud strange noise, very like the braying of an ass ; 

 but while at sea, and undisturbed, its note is very deep ar.d 

 solemn, and is often heard in the night-time. In diving, its 

 little wings are used as fins; but on the land, as front legs. 

 AVhen crawding, it may be said on four legs, through the tus- 

 sucks or on the side of a grassy cliff, it moves so very quickly 

 that it might easily be mistaken for a quadruped. "When at sea 

 and fishing, it comes to the surface for the purpose of breathing 

 v.ith such a spring, and dives again so instantaneously, that I 

 defy any one at first sight to be sure that it was not a fish leaping 

 for sport. 



Two kinds of geese frequent the Falklands. The upland 

 f-pecies (Anas Magellanica) is connnon, in pairs and in small 

 llockfl, throughout the island. They do not migrate, but build 



