150 
Capt. C. C. Abbott on the Birds 
2. Milvago australis (Gmel.). (Johnny Rook.) 
This is one of the commonest birds in East Falkland. One 
or two of their nests are sure to be found near a Penguin- 
rookery. During an expedition which I made to the North 
Camp, in December 1860, I found at least fifteen nests along 
the cliffs of the north shore. All these had two young ones in 
them covered with down of a light-yellow colour. The nest is 
generally composed of the dead fibres of the Tussac-grass, and 
frequently has some sheep’s wool in it. The eggs are laid in 
the first week in November, and are generally two, sometimes 
three, in number. In a nest that I once robbed of three eggs, 
on going to it again about a week later, I was surprised to find 
two more laid, one of which was a very light-coloured one. 
Mr. Darwin has well described the bold habits of this bird, 
though he appears to be in error in supposing that they only 
breed on the adjoining islets. I once had my cap knocked off 
by this bird while taking its eggs, and had it not been for a 
friendly piece of Tussac growing near, I should have fallen into 
the sea from the perpendicular cliff where the nest was situated. 
Another curious incident occurred to me with reference to this 
bird at Hope Place. On going to take the eggs out of a nest 
situated on a dead Tussac-root, I heard a rustling at my feet, 
and on looking down I saw a Loggerhead Duck (Micropterus 
cinereus ) vacating her nest. This had evidently been formed 
out of the fallen particles of the previous year’s nest of the 
Milvago leucurus. The Duck left five eggs and a young one in 
her nest, which seemed to me at the time to have been placed 
in a most singular situation; but I afterwards recollected that 
the Loggerhead had chosen her position first (laying in Sep¬ 
tember), and could not have known at the time that she was 
likely to have such dangerous neighbours. The Milvago , although 
bold in some respects, is in others a great coward, and will 
never attack any other bird except the latter be wounded. I 
have seen the Black Oyster-catcher drive it away from its eggs. 
On one occasion I shot one of these birds for a specimen, and, 
while it was lying on the ground wounded, another came down 
and would have killed and eaten it before my eyes had I not 
interfered. The young birds of this species never get their full 
