460 Letters, Announcements^ ^c. 



single egg about with them, concealed between their feet and 

 the plumage of the belly, waddling along on their "shins'^ 

 (the tibiae). The " Rock-hoppers " (which I identify with the 

 Falkland-Island A. nigrivestis) and " Jackasses ^^ {A. chryso- 

 come), are said to lay three eggs ; but I somewhat doubt this, for 

 I know that Spheniscus demersus lays but one. The young of 

 A. patagonicus, brought by Capt. Armson, are the queerest- 

 looking creatures for birds I ever saw. They are far more like 

 young brown bears ! The sailors^ name expresses their ap- 

 pearance exactly ; they call them " Oakum-boys " ; and they are 

 just balls of brown oakum ! 



Graculus carunculatus (Gmel.) ? The "King-Duiker" of 

 sealers. Eggs and skins which I refer to this species, from 

 Prof. Schlegel's short description of it (Mus. des Pays-Bas, Pele- 

 cani, p. 21), have been brought. The former measure 2" 10'" 

 by 1" 11'", and are of a pale green covered with the usual chalky 

 matter, rather sharply pointed at each end, and have the shell 

 very thick. 



Diomedea exulans. Several fine eggs of this species show a 

 marked similarity in form and colour to that of D. fuliginosa, as 

 already noticed. They measure 5" by 3" 3'". Capt. Armson 

 has also brought nestlings of several ages, and a young bird, 

 said to be about five or six days old, which is covered with pure 

 white silky down ; but the bill is the most remarkable feature, 

 the tips of the mandibles being armed for about three quarters 

 of an inch with obtuse tumid sheaths, as hard, white, and 

 shining as china. 



Several other birds breed on these islands, of which I hope to 

 get eggs diu'ing the next season : now all is covei'ed with ice 

 and snow. Capt. Armson has brought skins of Procellaria ma- 

 croptera,Prionhanksi (both with the\vyoun^),Pujffinuraurinatrix, 

 and a small Teal which I cannot identify. Land-birds, he says, 

 there are none; and the only insects I can hear of are some flies 

 and spiders. The young of the Petrels are mere " squabs," 

 covered with dark grey or black down, but each species is readily 

 distinguishable by its bill. 



My son writes nie word that he. has observed a curious habit 

 of the Drougo- Shrike, Dicrurus musicus. He says, " I have been 



