44 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 



54. Polyborus cheriway auduboni Cassin. 

 Audubon's Caracara; Mexican Buzzard; Caraira. 



The Caraira is probably as abundant now as it ever was. Living in 

 scattered pairs, and preferring open grazing lands to forest, it has a greater 

 range than formerly. The sugar plantations perforce maintain large cattle 

 ranches, as all cane still is hauled from the field to mill or railway by bulls. 

 Thousands of head of cattle are raised for the Havana market, as well. 



The Cubans call the Caracara the King of the Buzzards {Rey de 

 las Auras), because when a beast dies it is first to arrive and usually feeds 

 alone. As a matter of fact its powerful beak and an undoubted preference for 

 fresh meat, account adequately for this habit. The Buzzard is not powerful, 

 and prefers, and can tear up easily, only meat which is softened by decay. 



I have several times seen Carairas chase large birds. Gundlach once 

 saw one chase, tire out and kill a White Ibis. In dry weather they frequent 

 pools, and feed voraciously upon the dead and dying fish. 



The flight is crow-like, direct, fast and with heavy noisy flappings. 

 Gundlach notes that when frightened or irritated it gives a high-pitched 

 shriek, but I believe that observation was made from Gundlach's famous 

 pet which he raised from the nest and kept for fifteen years. The Caracara 

 habitually rests perching, usually in the very top of a high tree or on 

 some steep hillock. Often in the morning, or before sundown, it throws 

 back its head until it almost touches its shoulders and gives its high, 

 cackling cry which gave rise to the Brazilian name of Caracara, the Cuban 

 Caraira, and the less apt Argentine name of Carancho. 



The nest, which I have seen but once, near Palo Alto, was among 

 parasitic plants in a high tree. Gundlach says this is the usual site, but that 

 palms sometimes are chosen. As with so many Cuban birds, the nesting 

 season varies, and eggs have been found in November, December and March. 



My specimens from Cuba and the Isle of Pines differ in no wise from 

 mainland examples collected from Florida to Panama. 



55. Circus cyaneus hudsonius (Linne). 

 Marsh Hawk. 



A common and widespread winter resident, the great majority seen 

 always being young birds. It never has been known to nest. 



