LO
The plumage in the two sexes of this species differs in a manner unusual in
the family to which it belongs. The description given in all systematic works is
applicable, as I ascertained by dissection, only to the old females ; namely,
back and breast black, with the feathers of the neck having a white central mark
following the shaft,—tectrices, with a broad wliite band at extremity ; thighs and
partof the belly rufous-red ; beak “ ash gray,” with cere and tarsi “ Dutch orange.”
M a l e of smaller size than female: dark brown ; with tail, pointed feathers of
shoulders and base of primaries, pale rusty brown. On the breast, that part
of each feather which is nearly white in the female, is pale brown : bill black,
cere white, tarsi gray. As may be inferred from this description, the female is a
much more beautiful bird than the male, and all the tints, both of the dark and
pale colours, are much more strongly pronounced. From this circumstance, it
was long before I would believe that the sexes were as here described. But the
Spaniards, who are employed in hunting wild cattle, and who (like the aboriginal
inhabitants of every country) are excellent practical observers, constantly assured
me that the small birds with gray legs were the males of the larger ones with
legs and cere of an orange colour, and thighs with rufous plumage.
The Y o u n g M a l e can only he distinguished from the adult bird by its beak
not being so black, or cere so white; and likewise in a trifling difference of
plumage, such as in the markings of the pointed feathers about the head and
neck, being more like those of the female than of the old cock. One specimen,
which I obtained at the Falkland Islands, I suppose is a one-year-old female;
but its organs of generation were smooth : in size larger than the male ; the tail
dark brown, with the tip of each feather pale colour, instead of being almost
black with a white band; under tail-coverts dark brown, instead of rufous;
thighs only partly rufous, and chiefly on the inner sides ; feathers on breast and
shoulder like those of male, with part near shaft brown ; those on back of head
with white, like those of adult females. Beak, lower mandible gray, upper
black and gray (in the old female the whole is pale gray); the edge of cere and
the soles of the feet orange, instead of the whole of the cere, tarsi, and toes being
thus coloured. The circumstance of the young birds of, at least, one year and a
iialf old, as well as of the adult males, being brown coloured, will, I believe, alone
account for the singular fewness of the individuals with rufous thighs, a fact which
at first much surprised me.
The Milvago leucurus is exceedingly numerous at the Falkland Islands, and,
as an old sealer who had long frequented these seas remarked to me, this Archipelago
appears to be their metropolis. I was informed, by the same authority,
that they are found on the Diego Ramirez Rocks, the II Defonso islands, and on
some others, but never on the mainland of Tierra del Fuego. This statement 1 can
corroborate to a certain degree, since I never saw one in the southern part of
Tierra del Fuego, near Cape Horn, which was twice visited during our voyage.
They are not found on Georgia, or on tlie other antarctic islands. In many
respects these hawks very closely resemble in their habits the P . Brasiliensis.
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 neighbourhood
of the houses to pick up all kinds of offal. I f 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 tlie 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 difficiilty 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. IMr. 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