596 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



peculiar to South America, in which they are found in every lati- 

 tude and at all altitudes. They present, however, differences 

 according to the region which they inhabit. Each species fixes 

 itself in a zone, which becomes its special place of habitation. Thus 

 the Brazilian Caracara is met with everywhere, from the coldest 

 districts to the hottest countries, but only at a slight altitude, and in 



Fig. 280. The Black Caracara. 



company with the Chimango Caracara (Milvago chimango), whilst the 

 summits of the Andes are inhabited by the Long-winged Caracara 

 (M. megalopterus) ; and the Chimachima Caracara ( M. chimachimd] 

 inhabits the burning plains between the tropics. 



The Caracaras, especially the common species and the Chimango, 

 are distinguished from the other Falconidae by an excessive amount 

 of sociability : everywhere they seek out the vicinity of man. But 

 we should be labouring under a mistake if we supposed that aifec- 



