28 



only able to get rid of its tormentor by rolling on the gi-ound, 

 or by taking refuge among thick trees or bushes. This species 

 has the power of elevating the feathers on the back of its head, 

 eo as to form two separate tufts. I am not aware that the 

 nidification of the Yellow-headed Caracara has yet been ascer- 

 tained with certainty ; but D'A^ara relates that he frequently 

 observed a pair of old birds of this species accompanied by a 

 single young one, which they fed for several months after it had 

 left the nest. D'Orbigny was informed, dm-ing his travels in 

 South America, that this species constructed a nest similar to 

 that of the Chimango, and laid about the same nimiber of eggs. 

 The Yellow-headed Caracara is not gregarious ; its cry is 

 said much to resemble that of the preceding species. The 

 irides in this bird are whiteish, and the bare space around 

 the eye has a slight tint of rose coloiu* ; the tarsi are a pale 

 yellow. It may, in conclusion, be desirable to add that the 

 name % chimachima, originally givep to this species by D'Azara, 

 appears to be objectionable, as, according to the observations 

 of D'Orbigny, that name is applied by the inhabitants of the 

 banks of the Kio de la Plata to its congener, the Milvago 

 chimango. 



Tolerable figures of the adult of this species are given in 

 Jardine and Selby's "Illustrations of Ornithology," pi. 2, and in 

 Lesson's "Complements de Buffon," pi. 18; also m Spix's 

 " Avium species novae," pi. 5. Plate 4 of the last-named 

 work represents this species in immature plumage. 



SPECIMENS OF MILVAGO GHIMACHIMA. 



No. 1. J adult (G) Mr. Verreaux. 



No. 2. $ nearly adult (G) Mr. Warwick. 



No. 3. ? immature... Bogota (G) Ditto. 



No. 4. i adult Bahia (G) Mr. Gould. 



No. 5. S immature ... Ditto (G) Ditto. 



