HUOOKS: FALKLAND ISLAND HIRDS. 147 



They breed in the western part of the Falkland group where I was 

 unable to go, and are to be seen in small numbers flying oft" any shore. 



During the latter part of February they were seen between the 

 Falklands and the Strait of Magellan, and through the entire straits 

 but not entering the Pacific where only D. r.rsiilaii.s was observed. 



Sterna hirundinacea Lesson. 

 " Split-tailed Gull ". 



These terns are locally common, colonies to my knowledge being 

 at Darwin, also on a small inaccessible island oft' Port Stephens, and 

 a tremendous host on a tussock-island near Speadwell Island. 



Larus glaucodes Meyen. 

 "Fork-tailed Gull". 



This beautiful little gull is moderately common on these islands. 

 They colonized close to the terns at the localities mentioned above. 

 Dr. \Yace of Darwin informed me that these gulls in that vicinity fed 

 largely on organisms found in the littoral fringe of kelp. 

 The fleshy eye-ring is bright red in life. 



Larus dominicanus Lichtenstein. 

 Dominican Gull; "Big Gull". 



Dominican Gulls are abundant and are great .scavengers. Al)out 

 Port Stanley large flocks are to be seen in the yards of the slaughter- 

 houses where they sul)sist upon oflPal. Elsewhere they may be seen 

 coursing low over the land in search of dead cattle or sheep. I have 

 seen them over a mile from the nearest water feeding on a dead cow. 

 Shepherds told me that recently some of these gulls have acquired 

 the habit of picking the eyes out of living sheep that have rolled upon 

 their backs, and are unable to rise. They also feed on penguin eggs. 



They are \ery pugnacious about a carcass, the adults fighting 

 among themselves and driving oft" the immature birds, the latter 

 daring only to fight other young birds. The young in fighting make 



