19 



headed Caracaras, and, at certain seasons, with various species 

 of Gulls. It is a bii'd of familiar habits, and readily seeks its 

 food in the vicinity of human habitations. The Brazilian Cara- 

 cara is said by Mens, D'Orbigny (in his work on the Birds of 

 Cuba), " to have two very different cries ; one which it utters 

 in pui'suit of other birds, and which is only an expression of 

 rage ; the other, a second cry, which it has in a state of repose, 

 and may be rendered by the word Caracara. * * * This 

 cry is almost always a song of love, being more repeated at 

 that time than at any other." The cere in this species, and the 

 adjacent bare skin, are of a caiinine red tinged with yellow, 

 the irides are hazel brown inclining to rufous, the legs and 

 feet are yellow, and the croj), which (as has been abeady 

 mentioned) is bare of feathers, partakes of the same tint. 



The best representation of this species, with which I am 

 acqiiainted, is that given in Audubon's "Birds of America," 

 pi. 161; but the brown tints of the plumage in the specimens 

 there figured indicate the drawing to have been taken ii'om 

 individuals which had not acquired their fidly adidt dress. 



The egg of this species isfigui-ed in D'Orbigny' s "Voyage 

 dans I'Amerique Meridionale," pi. 1, fig. 5 ; another figiu-e of 

 this egg is given by the same natm-alist in the Ornithology of 

 La Sagra's "History of Cuba," pi. 32, fig. 14; and two 

 others in Brewer's "North American Oology," pi. 2, figm-es 

 18 and 19. 



SPECIMENS OF POLTBORUS THARUS. 



Skeleton Mexico (G) Mr. Warwick. 



No. 1. 5 nearly adult (G) Zoological Society. 



No. 2. $ immature (G) Mr. Lefevre. 



No. 3. $ nearly adult ... Orizaba, Mexico ... (G) Mr. Botteri. 

 No. 4. S adult Ditto (G) Ditto. 



C 2 



