21 



in a circle, they patiently awaited for their feast to commence. 

 * * * * They readily attack wounded bii'ds. One of the officers 

 of the "Beagle" told me he saw a Cormorant in this state fly 

 to the shore, where several of these Hawks immediately seized 

 upon it and hastened its death by their repeated blows. I have 

 been told that several have been seen to wait together at the 

 mouth of a rabbit hole,* and seize on the animal as it comes 

 out. * * * * The " Beagle " was at the Falkland Islands 

 only dm-ing the early autumn (March), biit the officers of the 

 " Adventm-e," who were there in the winter, mentioned many 

 extraordinaiy instances of the boldness and rapacity of these 

 bii'ds. The sportsmen had difficulty in preventing the wounded 

 geese from being seized before their eyes ; and often, when 

 having cautiously looked around, they thought they had suc- 

 ceeded in hiding a fine bu-d in some crevice of the rocks, on 

 their retmm they found, when intending to pick up then- game, 

 nothiug but feathers. One of these Hawks pounced on a dog 

 which was lying asleep close by a party who were out shooting; 

 and they repeatedly flew on board the vessel lying in the 

 harboiu-, so that it was necessary to keep a good look-out to 

 prevent the liide used about the ropes being torn from the 

 rigging, and the meat or game fi'om the stern. They are very 

 mischievous and iuquisitive ; and they will pick up almost 

 anything fi'om the groimd. A large black glazed hat was 

 carried nearly a mile, as were a pair of heavy balls used in 

 catching wild cattle. Mr. Usborne experienced diu-iag the 

 survey a severe loss in a small Kater's-compass, iu a red morocco 

 case, which was never recovered. These bii'ds are, moreover, 

 quarrelsome and extremely passionate ; it was curious to behold 

 them, when impatient, tearing up the grass with their bUls 

 from rage. They are not truly gregarious ; they do not soar, 

 and their flight is heavy and clumsy. On the groimd they run 

 with extreme quickness, putting out one leg before the other 



* The rabbits of the Falkland Islands here referred to by Mr. Darwin, 

 are descended from English rabbits, \rhich have been turned loose on the islands. 



