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Genus PHALCOBJENUS fD'OrUgny.J 

 PHALCOB^NUS MEGALOPTERUS (Meyen.) 

 PHALCOB^NUS MONTANUS (UOrbigny.) 

 MOUNTAIN CAEACARA. 



The Moimtain Caracara is found in Chili, and, according 

 to Mons. D'Orbigny, also occurs in Peru and Bolivia — inhabit- 

 ing the Pacific side of the range of the Andes and the adjacent 

 table lands. It is a much less numerous and a somewhat 

 less familiar bii-d than the Polyhorus tharus^ though, like that 

 species, it feeds on carrion, and is also attracted by the broken 

 food and other refuse to be found near human habitations, 

 often frequenting the vicinity of the huts of the mountain 

 shepherds in quest of such aliments. The Mountain Caracara 

 is said to be destructive to very yoimg lambs, and also to the 

 newly-born yovmg' of the Llama ; it likewise feeds on reptiles 

 and worms, for which it searches between the stones on the 

 mountains. When attracted by a common prey, these birds are 

 seen in small companies, but at other times in pairs. This 

 species is said to lay tlu'ee eggs on the bare rock, but choosing 

 a situation sheltered fi-om the wind. I am not acquainted with 

 the coloiu-ing of the egg. The cry of this Caracara is described 

 as piercing and disagreeable. The ii-ides in this species are 

 brown; the cere and the adjacent bare skin are, in tjie adult 

 birds, a bright orange ; the legs and feet orange yellow ; in 

 the immatm-e bird the coloming of all these parts is much less 

 bright and vivid. 



This species, both in its adult and in its immatiu'e pkmiage, 

 is well figiu-ed inD'Orbigny's " Voyage dans I'Amerique Meri- 

 dionale," pi. 2. 



SPECIMENS OF PHALCOByENUS MEGALOPTERUS. 



No. 1. } by dissection, adult ) Western South ( (G) Zoological Society, from 

 (with sternum)... ) America ... ( the Knowsley Collection. 

 No. 2. nearly adult Chili (G) M. Verreaux. 



