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CENTRAL PARK, ^ 



.^^ NEWrORIC 



AUDUBON S CARACARA. 



POLYBORUS CHERIWAY [J ACQ). 



BY A. H. W. NORTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. 



A common resident of Bexar Co., Texas. 



The habits of this bird resemble those of the vultures, especially its 

 feeding ; but in regard to its nesting and manner of flight, it is entirely 

 different from its associates, the Turkey and Black Vulture. 



It will eat anything that the Buzzard will, but by no means confines 

 itself to dead flesh. Field-rats, snakes, lizards, and rabbits are preyed 

 upon. The balls of refuse from their stomachs contain parts of beetles 

 and bugs. I have often watched these birds stalking around some bunch 

 of prickly-pear cactus, waiting and watching for some unlucky rat or snake. 



The flight of the Mexican Eagle, as it is locally called, is exactly like 

 that of the common Crow — always in a straight line with even, steady 

 flapping of the wings. It is not much given to soaring, and does so only 

 at great heights and in the company of vultures. I have never seen them 

 make long plunges with closed wings, like the hawks, but they are adepts 

 at making short downward swoops, and when doing this, often appear to 

 turn completely over in the air. 



This bird is seen to best advantage when standing among a group of 

 vultures on the ground ; the trim appearance and erect, almost soldierly 

 bearing of the Caracara then bringing it into striking contrast with the 

 crouching attitude of the vultures. 



Being of a quiet and unobtrusive disposition, its temper is seldom 

 ruffled. Still there is a limit to the patience even of the Caracara, for 

 upon several occasions I have seen them give an interfering Red-tail a 

 good drubbing. 



The birds remain in pairs, and in the same locality year after year, and 

 as far as I have Observed, always return to the same nest to breed. I 

 have always found the nest in live-oak or hack-berry trees, but never in 

 mesquites, nor in the river bottoms. They seem to avoid river bottoms, 

 and to prefer a brushy country with the large trees few and scattered. 

 Of course the nesting sites will differ with the character of the country ; 

 but the fact remains that these birds are rare in the heavily timbered 

 country twenty miles east of here, and are seldom noted in the hills about 

 fifty miles north-west. 



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