CARANCHO 75 
will readjust itself. But in numbers there is safety, 
especially for a feeble, hunted species, unable from 
its peculiar structure to vary its manner of life. To 
such the remark made by Darwin, that “ rarity is 
the precursor to extinction,” applies with peculiar 
force. 
CARANCHO OR CARACARA 
Polyborus tharus 
Dark brown with whitish mottlings ; head black; wings and tail 
greyish white with greyish brown cross-bars and black tips; beneath 
dark brown ; throat and sides of head yellowish white ; beak yellow ; 
cere orange. Sexes alike. 
Tus bird, which combines the raptorial instincts 
of the Eagle with the base carrion-feeding habits of 
the Vulture, has already had so many biographers 
that it might seem superfluous to speak of it again at 
any great length ; only it happens to be one of those 
very versatile species about which there is always 
something fresh to be said; and, besides, I do not 
altogether agree with the very ignoble character 
usually ascribed to it by travellers. It is, however, 
probable that it varies greatly in disposition and 
habits in different districts. In Patagonia I was 
surprised at its dejected appearance and skulking 
cowardly manner, so unlike the bird I had been 
accustomed to see on the pampas. I shot several, 
and they were all in a miserably poor condition and 
apparently half-starved. It struck me that in that 
