Manchester Memoirs, Vol. xlviii. (1904), No. ?i3. 33 



chalky as those of the preceding species. My collection 

 contains only two specimens, which measure 58 and 61 

 mm. in length, and 40 and 39 mm. in breadth. 



Nycticorax obsatrics, " Quawk." Universally distri- 

 buted throughout these islands, but scarce everywhere. 

 A very beautiful bird, but usually seen alone. During 

 the breeding season the male has a yellow crest, com- 

 posed only of three feathers, extending from the crown 

 to the middle of the back. The first male specimen of 

 this species decorated in this manner was observed on the 

 5th January in Berkley Sound ; the last specimen on 

 15th February at Grave Cove, West Falklands. The 

 egg of this species is quite unknown to me. 



Tachyeres cinereus, " Steamer " or " Loggerhead." 

 This is one of the commonest birds on the Falkland 

 Archipelago, being perhaps more abundant in the 

 numerous estuaries, than along the shores of the ocean. 

 There is a rather curious habit always practised by the 

 parents of this species on their young when they are old 

 enough to take care of themselves. Both parent birds 

 not only abandon their progeny, but drive them away. 

 If they attempt to revisit their old homes, they are 

 always attacked and driven away with blows by the short 

 wings of both birds. When I was staying at Roy Cove 

 in the West Falklands, I had excellent opportunities of 

 studying the habits of these and other aquatic birds while 

 walking along the sandstone cliffs skirting the little 

 estuary. Besides this, the birds were so very tame, as 

 they are seldom, if ever, molested ; so I often went that 

 direction. 



Towards the end of January the steamer ducks were 

 driving away their young from their homes. It was most 

 amusing to watch the parent birds suddenly start with 

 apparent astonishment when several of their youngsters 



