brooks: FALKLAND ISLAND BIRDS. 1^7 



days the colonists toll inr that Ijoth these species generally lay on 

 October 17, as was tlie ciuse on my visit in 1915. An old re.sident told 

 me that formerly within his memory they nested earlier. 



In the Falklands the Gentoos seek a variety of sites for their colo- 

 nies, hut never do they ascend to the tops of any of the hill ranges, 

 the sunnnits chosen, if any, being of comparatively low grassy hills, 

 but often the greater part of a mile from the beach. Mr. Murphy's 

 hypothesis (Bull. Brooklyn inst. arts & sci., 2, p. 115-116) that pen- 

 guins still seek the heights on account of early glaciation, when the 

 ridges separating the ice-filled valleys were undoul)tedly the only bare 

 spots, seems very reasonable. 



Today in the Falklands, where man has been since the middle of 

 the eighteenth century, many penguins still run inland when frightened, 

 retaining the primordial fear of tiie seal; reaction to the stimulus of 

 fear still sending them away from their most natural element, where 

 their worst enemy has always existed. 



The colony at San Carlos was on a grassy hilltop about three 

 (juarters of a mile from the beach. The approach was up a steep, 

 winding, sandy ra^•ine, an ascent reciuiring many rests for the birds 

 l)efore arriving at their destination, and a difficult walk for a man. 



The Port Stephens colony, where most of my observations w^ere 

 made, was quite different. Here the main colony was in a low ^■alley 

 between the sea and the bay of Port Stephens. On the steep sides 

 of the valley were several small units of the main colony comprising 

 sixteen in all. The beach on the ocean side was only used. 



Nest-building, such as it is, is for some of the birds a long, arduous 

 task showing little progress, for while a bird is away finding a pebble 

 or a bit of peat, its neighbors help themselves to whatever has thus 

 far been brought to the nest. The owner does not show any concern, 

 but continues patiently, and when opportunity affords selects ma- 

 terial from an absent, but thus far more fortunate neighbor. If 

 caught in the act of pilfering a lively chase ensues. These birds are 

 very particular in choosing just the right bit of peat, often turning it 

 about for some time before finally rejecting or appropriating it. Any- 

 thing of a bright color is treasured by all, and a piece of tin or empty 

 shotgun shell placed on one side of a colony is taken from nest to nest, 

 until in a few days a long series of thefts may bring it to the other side. 

 The pleasures of nest-building continue long after the eggs are hatched, 

 some^birds,'even in December and as late as January 21, were to be 

 seen^industriously waddling along with material that was carefully 

 placed in a pile near some nesting group. More rarely a pebble or 



