BIRDS. 
17 
Tierra del Fuego, near Cape Horn, which was twice visited daring our voyage. 
They are not found on Georgia, or on the other antarctic islands. In many 
respects these hawks very closely resemble in their habits the P. Brasi- 
liensis. They live on the flesh of dead animals, and on marine productions. On 
the Ramirez Rocks, which support no vegetation, and therefore no land-animals, 
their entire sustenance must depend upon the sea, At the Falkland Islands 
they were extraordinarily tame and fearless ; and constantly haunted the neigh- 
bourhood of the houses to pick up all kinds of offal. If a hunting party in the 
country killed a beast, these birds immediately congregated from all quarters 
of the horizon ; and standing on the ground in a circle, they patiently awaited 
for their feast to commence. After eating, their uncovered craws are largely 
protruded, giving to them a disgusting appearance. I mention this particularly, 
because M. D’Orbigny says that the P. Brasiliensis is the only bird of this family 
in which the craw is much developed. They readily attack wounded birds ; 
one of the officers of the Beagle told me he saw a cormorant in this state fly 
to the shore, where several of these hawks immediately seized upon it, and 
hastened its death by their repeated blows. I have been told that several have 
been seen to wait together at the mouth of a rabbit hole, and seize on the animal 
as it comes out. This is acting on a principle of union, which is sufficiently 
remarkable in birds of prey ; but which is in strict conformity with the fact 
stated by Azara, namely, that several Carranchas unite together in pursuit of 
large birds, even such as herons. 
The Beagle was at the Falkland Islands only during the early autumn 
(March), but the officers of the Adventure, who were there in the winter, mentioned 
many extraordinary instances of the boldness and rapacity of these birds. The 
sportsmen had difficulty in preventing the wounded geese from being seized before 
their eyes ; and often, when having cautiously looked round, they thought they 
had succeeded in hiding a fine bird in some crevice of the rocks, on their return, 
they found, when intending to pick up their game, nothing but feathers. One of 
these hawks pounced on a dog which was lying asleep close by a party, who were 
out shooting ; and they repeatedly flew on board the vessel lying in the harbour, 
so that it was necessary to keep a good look-out to prevent the hide used about 
the ropes, being torn from the rigging, and the meat or game from .the stern. 
They are very mischievous and inquisitive ; and they will pick up almost 
anything from the ground : a large black glazed hat was carried nearly a mile, 
as was a pair of heavy balls, used in catching wild cattle. Mr. Usborne 
experienced, during the survey, a severe loss, in a small Kater’s-compass, in a 
red morocco case, which was never recovered. These birds are, moreover 
quarrelsome, and extremely passionate ; it was curious to behold them when, 
impatient, tearing up the grass with their bills from rage. They are not truly 
