Capt. C. C. Abbott on the Birds of the Falkland Islands. 149 



Kakiton. Here I cheer the Indians with some of their favourite 

 drink, ' chicha,' which is neither more nor less than fermented 

 hquor before it is distilled. I then walk on and reach Coban at 

 half-past five o'clock. My companions and the Indians arrive 

 at eight o'clock, and thus bring my last expedition in Guatemala 

 to a conclusion. 



XV. — Notes on the Birds . of the Falkland Islands. By Captain 

 C. C. Abbott, late in command of Detachments in the Falk- 

 land Islands. 



These notes are the result of personal observations made during 

 a residence of three years, from February 1858 to October 1860, 

 at Stanley, the seat of government of the Falkland Islands, 

 whilst I was in command of the detachments of troops stationed 

 there. During this period I made frequent excursions into the 

 interior of the island, both north and south, and lost no oppor- 

 tunity of collecting specimens myself, and of obtaining informa- 

 tion relating to the birds and other objects of natural history 

 by every means in my power. I also sent home a large number 

 of skins and eggs, which have now found their way into the 

 different Museums of Europe. 



1. Cathartes aura (Linn.)*. (Turkey Buzzard.) 

 Turkey Buzzards are very common in East Falkland, remain- 

 ing the whole year round and breeding. They lay their eggs, 

 two in number (but sometimes three), under a high bank 

 amongst bushes, or on the top of a dead balsam log, without 

 constructing any sort of nest. The time of their laying is 

 about the first week in November. I have remarked that the 

 young birds of the first year have the bare space on the head 

 and neck of a bluish colour, as also the feet. In the mature 

 bird these are both pink. These birds go in pairs the whole 

 year round, though of course any dead carcase will bring many 

 of them together. 



* The scientific names here given are those adopted by Mr. Sclater in 

 his " Catalogue of the Birds of the Falkland Islands " (Proc. Zool. Soc. 

 1860, p. 382, and 1861, Feb. 12th). The English names, added in paren- 

 theses, are those employed by the colonists for the species known to them. 



