CHAP, ix.] HABITS OF SOME BIRDS. 199 



thought inexplicable transportal of the erratic boulders, which 

 are strewed over the plains of Europe. 



I have little to remark on the zoology of these islands. I have 

 before described the carrion-vulture or Polyborus. There are 

 some other hawks, owls, and a few small land-birds. The water- 

 fowl are particularly numerous, and they must formerly, from 

 the accounts of the old navigators, have been much more so. 

 One day I observed a cormorant playing with a fish which it had 

 caught. Eight times successively the bird let its prey go, then 

 dived after it, and although in deep water, brought it each time 

 to the surface. In the Zoological Gardens I have seen the otter 

 treat a fish in the same manner, much as a cat does a mouse : I 

 do not know of any other instance where dame Nature appears 

 so wilfully cruel. Another day, having placed myself between 

 a penguin (Aptenodytes demersa) and the water, I was much 

 amused by watching its habits. It was a brave bird ; and till 

 reaching the sea, it regularly fought and drove me backwards. 

 Nothing less than heavy blows would have stopped him ; every 

 inch he gained he firmly kept, standing close before me erect 

 and determined. When thus opposed he continually rolled his 

 head from side to side, in a very odd manner, as if the power of 

 distinct vision lay only in the anterior and basal part of each 

 eye. This bird is commonly called the jackass penguin, from its 

 habit, while on shore, of throwing its head backwards, and 

 making a loud strange noise, very like the braying of an ass ; 

 but while at sea, and undisturbed, its note is very deep and 

 solemn, and is often heard in the night-time. In diving, its 

 little wings are used as fins; but on the land, as front legs. 

 Wh^n crawling, it may be said on four legs, through the tus- 

 sucks or on the side of a grassy cliff, it moves so very quickly 

 that it might easily be mistaken for a quadruped. When at sea 

 and fishing, it comes to the surface for the purpose of breathing 

 with such a spring, and dives again so instantaneously, that I 

 defy any one at first sight to be sure that it was not a fish leaping 

 for sport. 



Two kinds of geese frequent the Falklarids. The upland 

 species (Anas Magellanica) is common, in pairs and in small 

 tlocks, throughout the island. They do not migrate, but build 

 14 



