152 
Capt. C. C. Abbott on the Birds 
camp minus my eggs. On my return next day with an old tin 
pot, some string, and two ramrods belonging to my friends, I 
was glad to find the eggs still there, not having been eaten by 
the Johnny Rooks, as I had rather expected. I tied the three 
ramrods together and attached to them the tin pot. Thus I was 
able to reach the eggs; but, unfortunately, after one or two 
attempts to fish them up, the bottom ramrod became disengaged 
and stuck in the nest, leaving me without any means of obtain¬ 
ing them. Being determined not to be beaten, I started off 
next time from the camp (three miles from the nest) with a 
large boathook, a tin pot, and a lasso, and this time, having a 
friend to assist me (for although I could lower the boathook 
into the nest, I could not see, from the position I was in, when 
I had an egg in the pot), I got all the three eggs, one after the 
other, and returned at last, pleased with my success. 
5. Circus cinereus, YieilL 
I have never found the nest of this bird in East Falkland, but 
that they breed there is certain, as they occur the whole year 
round: they are, however, far from plentiful. I fancy they may 
breed on the contiguous islands. I have observed young birds 
of this species follow me out rabbit-hunting, and I have seen 
them swoop at a rabbit, but I never saw them kill one. One of 
these Harriers was shot near Stanley whilst endeavouring to 
carry away a fowl. They are bold for their size, and very swift 
in the air. The plumage of the young birds is of a mottled 
brown. 
6. Otus brachyotus (Gmel.) (Owl.) 
This is a scarce bird in East Falkland. It breeds in the 
long grass, as I have been informed, but I never found a nest. 
At Port Louis this species comes about near the houses at night 
in quest of mice, but I have never seen them near the town of 
Stanley. 
7. Turdus falklandicus, Quoy et Gaim. (Common Thrush.) 
This bird is generally found among the rocks of the moun¬ 
tains, though sometimes frequenting the gardens in Stanley in 
search of grubs. I have found a Thrush's nest as early as the 
19th of September. This was in a valley near Port Louis. The 
