42 MALDONADO. [CHAP. m. 



and fearless, and haunt the neighbourhood of houses for offal. If a 

 hunting party kills an animal, a number soon collect and patiently 

 await, standing on the ground on all sides. After eating, their un- 

 covered craws are largely protruded, giving them a disgusting appear- 

 ance. They readily attack wounded birds : a cormorant in this state 

 having taken to the shore, was immediately seized on by several, and 

 its death hastened by their blows. The Beagle was at the Falklands 

 only during the summer, but the officers of the Adventure, who were 

 there in the winter, mention many extraordinary instances of the bold- 

 ness and rapacity of these birds. They actually pounced on a dog that 

 was lying fast asleep close by one of the party ; and the sportsmen had 

 difficulty in preventing the wounded geese from being seized before 

 their eyes. It is said that several together (in this respect resembling 

 the Carranchas) wait at the mouth of a rabbit-hole, and together seize 

 on the animal when it conies out. They were constantly flying on 

 board the vessel when in the harbour ; and it was necessary to keep a 

 good look out to prevent the leather being torn from the rigging, and 

 the meat or game from the stern. These birds are very mischievous 

 and inquisitive ; they will pick up almost anything from the ground ; a 

 large black glazed hat was carried nearly a mile, as was a pair of the 

 heavy balls used in catching cattle. Mr. Usborne experienced during 

 the survey a more severe loss, in their stealing a small Kater's compass 

 in a red morocco leather case, which was never recovered. These 

 birds are, moreover, quarrelsome and very passionate ; tearing up the 

 grass with their bills from rage. They are not truly gregarious ; they 

 do not soar, and their flight is heavy and clumsy ; on the ground they 

 run extremely fast, very much like pheasants. They are noisy, uttering 

 several harsh cries ; one of which is like that of the English rook ; 

 hence the sealers always call them rooks. It is a curious circumstance 

 that, when crying out, they throw their heads upwards and backwards, 

 alter the same manner as the Carrancha. They build in the rocky 

 cliffs of the sea-coast, but only on the small adjoining islets, and not on 

 the two main islands : this is a singular precaution in so tame and 

 fearless a bird. The sealers say that the flesh of these birds, when 

 cooked, is quite white, and very good eating ; but bold must the man 

 be who attempts such a meal. 



We have now only to mention the turkey-buzzard (Vultur aura), and 

 the Gallinazo. The former is found wherever the country is moderately 

 damp, from Cape Horn to North America. Differently from the 

 Polyborus Brasiliensis and Chimango, it has found its way to the 

 Falkland Islands. Thejturkey-buzzard is a solitary bird, or at most goes 

 in pairs. It may at once be recognized from a long distance, by its 

 lofty soaring, and most elegant flight. It is well known to be a true 

 carrion-feeder. On the west coast of Patagonia, among the thickly- 

 wooded islets and broken land, it lives exclusively on what the sea 

 throws up, and on the carcasses of dead seals. Wherever these 

 animals are congregated on the rocks, there the vultures may be seen. 

 The Gallinazo (Cathartes atratus) has a different range from the last 

 species, as it never occurs southward of lat 41. Azara states that 



