25 



PHALCOB-ffiNTJS CARUNCULATUS (Des Murs.) 



CAEUNCULATED CARA.CAEA. 



The Canmculated Caracara, so called from the wrinkled 

 character of the skin of the throat and the adjacent parts, was 

 first described by Mens. Des Murs, in the Kevue de Zoologie 

 for 1853, p. 155. This species is an inhabitant of the moim- 

 tainous table lands of Ecuador, and the only information I 

 possess respecting its habits, is that sent home by Mr. Fraser 

 (by whom the specimens in the Norwich Museum were col- 

 lected) and published by Mr. Sclater in the "Proceedings" of the 

 Zoological Society for 1858, p. 555. This bird is there re- 

 ferred to under the erroneous appellation of Milvago megalop- 

 tertis (Meyen), in the following terms : — " Found in pairs 

 on the plains ; stomachs contained maggots, wheat, and 

 vegetable matter ; said to be good eating. In Ambato I saw 

 two on the roof and one at the door of a mud hut." Mr. 

 Fraser also states that " the irides are hazel, the skin of the 

 chin and throat wrinkled, and, together with the face and 

 cere, deep orange." 



An adult specimen of the Carunculated Caracara is figured 

 in the " Ibis," vol. 3, pi. 1. 



SPECIMENS OF PHALCOBJENUS CARUNCULATUS. 



No. 1. J adult Above Punim, Ecuador Mr. Fraser. 



No. 2. 5 ditto Ditto Ditto. 



No. 3. 5 ditto Mountain Pichincha, Ecuador. . . Ditto. 



