152 Capt. C. C. Abbott on the Birds 



camp minus my eggs. On my return next day with an old tin 

 pot, some string, and two ramrods belonging to my friends, I 

 was glad to find the eggs still there, not having been eaten by 

 the Johnny Rooks, as I had rather expected. I tied the three 

 ramrods together and attached to them the tin pot. Thus I was 

 able to reach the eggs ; but, unfortunately, after one or two 

 attempts to fish them up, the bottom ramrod became disengaged 

 and stuck in the nest, leaving me without any means of obtain- 

 ing them. Being determined not to be beaten, I started off 

 next time from the camp (three miles from the nest) with a 

 large boathook, a tin pot, and a lasso, and this time, having a 

 friend to assist me (for although I could lower the boathook 

 into the nest, I could not see, from the position I was in, when 

 I had an egg in the pot), I got all the three eggs, one after the 

 other, and returned at last, pleased with my success. 



5. Circus cinereus, Vieill. 



I have never found the nest of this bird in East Falkland, but 

 that they breed there is certain, as they occur the whole year 

 round : they are, however, far from plentiful. I fancy they may 

 breed on the contiguous islands. I have observed young birds 

 of this species follow me out rabbit-hunting, and I have seen 

 them swoop at a rabbit, but I never saw them kill one. One of 

 these Harriers was shot near Stanley whilst endeavouring to 

 carry away a fowl. They are bold for their size, and very swift 

 in the air. The plumage of the young birds is of a mottled 

 brown. 



6. Otus brachyotus (Gmel.) (Owl.) 



This is a scarce bird in East Falkland. It breeds in the 

 long grass, as I have been informed, but I never found a nest. 

 At Port Louis this species conies about near the houses at night 

 in quest of mice, but I have never seen them near the town of 

 Stanley. 



7. TuRDUs FALKLANDicus, Quoy et Gaim. (Common Thrush.) 

 This bird is generally found among the rocks of the moun- 

 tains, though sometimes frequenting the gardens in Stanley ni 

 search of grubs. I have found a Thrush's nest as early as the 

 19th of September. This was in a valley near Port Louis. The 



