of the Falkland Islands. 3^) 



ed by Bougainville, the expedition did not see. About the 

 15th of December they were visited by many Pltocce, and ob- 

 tained an undescribed species. The Balcena mysticetus also 

 made its appearance. 



In birds these islands are more prolific. I. Of Birds of Prey, 

 the expedition found the Vultur aura^ Falco polysoma, Quoy 

 et Gaim. F. histrionicw, do. F. Novce-zcelandice. F. brasilien- 

 sis. A singular instance is given of the boldness of this last 

 species. Messrs Blois and Garnot having shot a pair of geese, 

 male and female, one of their young ones was pounced upon, 

 and carried off from before their eyes. A species of owl, with 

 a short tuft, terminates the list of birds of prey. 



II. Passereaux. — In this division were discovered seven 

 species. Of two species of thrush, one was new, and has been 

 named Turdus Falklandiac. There are also two species of 

 Sylvia, S. machviana, Gam. sp. nov. and the other resembling 

 S. cisticola, native of Sicily and Sardinia. A new Emberiza. 

 E. melanodera, Quoy and Gaim., the Stemus ?nilitaris, and 

 the new Certhia antarctica, Garn. conclude this division. 

 The Stemus is the only bird with splendid plumage, and is 

 called by Bougainville the Oiseauoo rouge. 



III. Echassiers. — A pretty new species of plover, Chara- 

 drius pyroceplialus, Garn. and Tringa Urvillii, Garn. sp. nov. 

 are the first mentioned. The latter is said to be generally 

 perched upon Hydrocotyle gurnrnifera. Lam. Two species of 

 oyster-catchers were seen, the Hcsmatopus niger of Quoy and 

 Gaimard, and a distinct one, the //. leucopodus, Garn ; remark- 

 able for the pale colour of the feet. The heron " Bihoreau 

 pouacre" was extremely rare. The Scolopax longirostris, 

 and the Charadrius calidris did not differ from those of Eu- 

 rope. Of Chionis vaginalis, Viell. known by navigators un- 

 der the name of the white pigeon, a single specimen only 

 could be procured. A few days before, another had been shot 

 far out at sea, about eighty leagues from land. 



IV. Palmipedes.— Belonging to this extensive order, the 

 expedition observed several very interesting species. The 

 birds composing it were more numerous than any other, as 

 might be anticipated. A new species of grebe has been de- 



