1832-3. CARRION HAWKS. 6? 



islands. In many respects these hawks resemble in their 

 habits the Carranchas. They live on the flesh of dead 

 animals and on marine productions ; and on the Ramirez rocks 

 their whole sustenance must depend on the sea. They are 

 extraordinarily tame and fearless, and haunt the neighbour- 

 hood 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 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 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 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 comes 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 rig- 

 ging, and the meat or game from the stern. These birds are 

 very mischievous and inquisitive; they will pick up almost any 

 thing 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 gre- 

 garious ; do not soar ; their flight is heavy and clumsy ; on 

 the ground they run with extreme quickness, very much like 

 pheasants. They are noisy, uttering several harsh cries ; one 

 of which is like that of the English rook ; hence the sealers 



P 2 



