206 Lieut. J. R. H. MacFarlane on Birds 



satisfactory, so my feelings may be understood when my 

 raptorial friend plumped down about two hundred feet below, 

 sliding and rolling down the deep sand of the precipice, at 

 the foot of which I found him lying as dead as a stone. 

 The next question was, what to do with the carcase, being 

 about four miles from the ship with a hill of about 600 feet 

 high to cross, through sand up to the ankles and under a 

 blazing sun. I decided on cutting off the wings at the 

 shoulder for a fire-screen, with his neck, head, and claws as 

 trophies, and with these articles tied round my neck I com- 

 menced my homeward tramp. Although triced by the bones 

 close up to ray neck the tips of the wings trailed on the sand 

 and, being extended, hung like an immense cloak over my 

 back. Whether for this reason, or owing to the strong smell 

 emitted from the bird, I am unable to say, but I had no need 

 now for my dog's whinings, as all the way in my ascent the 

 Condors wheeled round my head in uncomfortable proximity, 

 and I had to fire at them several times with small shot when 

 they came, as it seemed, almost dangerously near. 



In August and September, 1883, the South- American Great 

 Skuas {Stercorarius chilensis) were abundant in Callao Bay, 

 and they lead the Gulls a hard life during the time their 

 presence lasts ; but I am told that during part of the year 

 they are not seen in the harbour, being probably away at 

 their breeding-places. On the 17th and 18th November, 

 1883, I shot two specimens of Stercorarius pomatorhinus , 

 which Commodore Markham had been the first to obtain in 

 this locality, the most southern on record for America. 



Close to the anchorage at San Lorenzo and much in the 

 way, was an old sunken dock ; and, partially with a view of 

 seeing if the wreck could be removed, as well as for practice, 

 two large cylinders of gun-cotton were exploded. The 

 number of fish stunned was truly wonderful, the water being 

 literally covered. Scarcely any under a pound weight were 

 thought worth collecting, but the pile on our deck alone 

 must have been about ten feet square and three feet high in 

 the centre. Besides which a heavily laden boat was sent to 

 the foreign men-of-war at Callao, and every fishing-craft off 



