150 Capt. C. C. Abbott on the Birds 



2. MiLVAGO AUSTRALis (Gmcl.). (Jolinn)' Rook.) 

 This is one of the commonest birds in East Falkland. One 

 or two of their nests are sure to be found near a Penguin- 

 rookery. During an expedition which I made to the North 

 Camp, in December 1860, I found at least fifteen nests along 

 the cliffs of the north shore. All these had two young ones in 

 them covered with down of a light-yellow colour. The nest is 

 generally composed of the dead fibres of the Tussac-grass, and 

 frequently has some sheep's wool in it. The eggs are laid in 

 the first week in November, and are generally two, sometimes 

 three, in number. In a nest that I once robbed of three eggs, 

 on going to it again about a week later, I was surprised to find 

 two more laid, one of which was a very light-coloured one. 

 Mr. Darwin has well described the bold habits of this bird, 

 though he appears to be in error in supposing that they only 

 breed on the adjoining islets. I once had my cap knocked off 

 by this bird while taking its eggs, and had it not been for a 

 friendly piece of Tussac growing near, I should have fallen into 

 the sea from the perpendicular cliff where the nest was situated. 

 Another curious incident occurred to me with reference to this 

 bird at Hope Place. On going to take the eggs out of a nest 

 situated on a dead Tussac-root, I heard a rustling at my feet, 

 and on looking down I saw a Loggerhead Duck {Micropterus 

 cinereus) vacating her nest. This had evidently been formed 

 out of the fallen particles of the previous year's nest of the 

 Milvago leucurus. The Duck left five eggs and a young one in 

 her nest, which seemed to me at the time to have been placed 

 in a most singular situation ; but I afterwards recollected that 

 the Loggerhead had chosen her position first (laying in Sep- 

 tember), and could not have known at the time that she was 

 likely to have such dangerous neighbours. The Milvago, although 

 bold in some respects, is in others a great coward, and will 

 never attack any other bird except the latter be wounded. I 

 have seen the Black Oyster- catcher drive it away from its eggs. 

 On one occasion I shot one of these birds for a specimen, and, 

 while it was lying on the ground wounded, another came down 

 and would have killed and eaten it before my eyes had I not 

 interfered. The young birds of this species never get their full 



