xdKEE DAYS IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. 7o 



thousand. Those we saw were small and of a coarse breed, but we were 

 told that the cattle on the southern part of the island are much superior. 

 They do not get so fat as in Australia, seldom exceeding five hundred 

 pounds in weight; but the meat is of a tolerable quality, and the price 

 on the settlement is only two-pence per pound. Judging from the sleek 

 condition of the wild horses, I am inclined to think that if greater trouble 

 were taken, or rather, if any trouble at all were taken, in improving the 

 breed, they would become larger and fatter. 



The whole of the islands abound with rabbits, and in many parts the 

 ground is quite honey-combed with their burrows, which adds much to the 

 danger of riding. We shot a great many, which our guide fastened to 

 his horse by loose straps of untanned leather provided for the purpose. He 

 presented an odd appearance as he galloped about with the rabbits and 

 other game dangling about him. 



Of course these little conies, like the horses and cattle, were originally 

 imported, the only indigenous quadruped is the wild dog, (Ganis Mayellanicus.) 

 somewhat larger than the English Fox. We did not meet with a single 

 specimen, indeed it is so scarce that only one had been seen at Stanley 

 harbour during the last three or four years, which seems rather strange, 

 as there is no want of food for them in the camp. 



On one of the adjacent islands there is a breed of wild dogs, but I am 

 not aware whether the Falklanders procure any. 



We were surprised to find that we could not procure any fish; occasionally 

 large shoals of mullet enter the bay, and are taken with the seine, but 

 no fish are caught in the salt water with the hook and line. In the 

 rivulets which flow through the peat bog, there arc plenty of small trout. 



A fine large species of Snipe is very plentiful, and we shot great numbers; 

 they were of an excellent flavour, and were greatly relished by the invalids 

 on board the Great Britain. There are three species of Wild Geese, the 

 Upland, Brent, and Kelp Goose; the two former are excellent eating, but 

 the flesh of the Kelp Goose is rancid, and of a fishy flavour, and quite 

 unfit for the table. Flocks of them were feeding on the plains, or swimming 

 amongst the sea-weed, in company with the Loggerhead Ducks. They had 

 young ones at the time, and kept up an incessant gabbling until we had 

 passed. Besides these we saw two species of passerine birds, and a very 

 handsome Starling with a red breast, (Sturnns militaris.) 



Many of the birds were very tame, having probably never seen a human 

 being before. A Thrush particularly evinced great curiosity, and undeterred 

 by the report of the gun, followed me for a long distance. However, when 

 I attempted to come to closer quarters, he scuttled away and hid himself 

 amongst the low bushes, but invariably returned when I moved on; sug- 

 gesting to my mind the fulfilment of the promise made to aSoah after the 



