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Show 1832-3. MALDONADO. 66 . the carrion it may . elled to vomit up veral Car-till that bird lS cor;:t Lastly, Azara st~tes .tha~h::e of large have recently gorg .. too-ether, will umte ln h that it is a nchas five or SlX o All these facts s ow . ra ' h as herons. d ble ingenmty. birds~;v:;;::rsatile habits and ~~~;!.:~;y smaller tb~n the bird p L borus Clumango IS co h . d s of the contment, The ~ !J It is common on bot si e thward as the last last species. t d so far nor . but ~oes n~: ::::."::n~~~o:: and on the co~: ~:v:~::~~ species. It 't . Tierra del Fuego. 'th the d I have seen I m . on in common WI an k d that it feeds on earn 1 \ bird which leaves the remar eha It is generally the a~th' the ribs of a cow or Carranc · b seen WI m f skeleton; and may ~ften e The Chimango often re-horse, l'Ik e a bird m a d ctahgee . bor d ers of lakes a. nd swampsd, ts the sea-coast an It . trulv ommvorous, an ;~";e it picks up small fi::;own ~:t of ~ house with o~h~r will eat even bread, when he materially injure the po a o offal: I was also assured ~hat: rhe roots when first plant~d. crops m· Chiloe ' by stIo ckinge lf ps aw t h em by scores followmgI I the same island mys and larvre of insects. thne plough, and f e edinoo- okn' ltlh bei rwdso romr sa nimals. The y are more do not believe they ever I b t their flight is heavy ; l never active than the Carranchas, t~me . are not gregarious ; comsaw one soar; they are veryll d not upon trees; and fre-h n stone wa s, an monly perc 0 h 'll scream. h quently utter a g~ntle,fs ;Il borus * is remarkable ~rom t . e The third species o o y t we met with It only m fined localities which it frequen s : . which we have to con . The last specieS . . r one val ley in Patagomb a. N ovte Zelan du' e. This brrd IS edx - mention is the Poly orus h h le of the Falkland Islan s, Ceedingly numerous over t e w ol' I was informed by the b · t metropo IS. k d which appear to e Is . the Die o Ramirez roc san sealers, that they are found m the ;ainland of Tierra del the Ildefonso isles, but never oGn . or the more southern F uego. Nor do they occur on eorgia . n· d to" Montanus" of D .0 rb 't gny, but distinct. • A species a te I . 1832-3. CARRION HAWKS. 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 neighbourhood 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 rigging, 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 gregarious ; 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 F 2 |