of Hie Falkland Islands. 161 



some out-of-the-way valley that no one frequents ; and this is 

 the more remarkable^ as the birds, when found in a stream or 

 pond, are very tame. The complement of eggs is five. 



40. QuERQUEDULA VEiisicoLOR (Vieill.). (Pampas Duck.) 

 This bird is not common in East Falkland, occurring in but 



few places, but where found is generally seen in numbers. I 

 have never been successful in finding a nest of this Duck, though 

 I have had the young birds brought to me, and have no doubt 

 that it breeds in the island. 



41. QuERQUEDULA CYANOPTERA (Vieill.). (Ked Teal.) 



I am quite sure that a person might go out in East Falkland 

 for a month, and not shoot — and even, perhaps, not see — a Red 

 Teal, though at Mare Harbour I once, with a Gaucho, killed 

 seven in one day. The bird is generally very wild, and far 

 from common. I have never found its nest, but I have no doubt 

 it breeds in the island, having seen it in pairs in the summer 

 months. 



42. MiCROPTERUS ciNEREUs (Gm.). (Loggerhead Duck.) 

 This Duck, which is called the ' Loggerhead ' in the Falkland 



Islands, frequents the salt water. The harbour of Stanley is full 

 of them, as well as every other part of the coast. Like the Grey 

 Duck, each pair has a certain district, where they take up their 

 quarters, diving for shell-fish and whatever the tide throws up, 

 and driving away any other of their species that may come 

 within their bounds. Looking for the Loggerhead's eggs, which 

 are esteemed a great delicacy, is a great amusement to all the 

 boys in Stanley. The way they are found is this : — wherever a 

 male bird is seen by himself on the water during the breeding- 

 season, the female will be found sitting somewhere in a line per- 

 pendicular to the shore opposite to him, and generally not very 

 far off. My dog once found seven nests, all with the bird on, 

 in a small grass valley a short way from the beach at Mare 

 Harbour, pointing to them as steadily as he would to a Snipe. 

 On being disturbed, it is quite amusing to see the old bird 

 fluttering away towards the water ; for it is quite unable to fly. 



This Duck lays from the end of September to the end of 

 November, making its nest either in the long grass or bush of 



