CARRION BUZZARDS. 



303 



extraordinarily tame and fearless, and haunt the neighborhood 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 uncovered craws are largely protruded, 

 giving them a disgusting appearance. They readily attack wounded birds ; a cormo- 

 rant in this state, having taken to the shore, was immediately seized on by several, 

 and its death hastened by their blows. 



FIG. 142. Mllvago australis, and Al. chimachima, chimachima. 



" 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 boldness 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 pre- 

 venting 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 comes out. They were con- 

 stantly flying on board the vessel when in the harbor ; and it was necessary to keep a 



