GERANOAETUS MELANOLEUCUS. f>5 



its resemblance to that bird. Cavies and small mammals are its usual 

 prey ; and in the autumn and winter, when the Pigeons congregate in 

 large numbers, it follows their movements. During the Pigeon-season, 

 he has counted as many as thirty Eagles in the course of a three leagues' 

 ride ; and he has frequently seen an Eagle swoop down into a cloud of 

 Pigeons, and invariably reappear with one struggling in its talons. It 

 is seldom found far from the shores of the sea or of some large river ; 

 and on the Atlantic coast, in Patagonia, it soars above the sands at ebb- 

 tide, looking out for stranded fish, carcases of seals, and other animal 

 food left by the retiring waters, and quarrels with Condors and Vultures 

 over the refuse, even when it is quite putrid. It acts as a weather 

 prognostic, and before a storm is seen to rise in circles to a vast height 

 in the air, uttering piercing screams, which may be heard after it has 

 quite disappeared from sight. 



The nest of this species is usually built on the ledge of an inac- 

 cessible rock or precipice, but not unfrequently on a tree. Mr. Gibson 

 describes one, which he found on the top of a thorn-tree, as a structure 

 of large sticks three feet in diameter, the hollow cushioned with dry 

 grass. It contained two eggs, dull white, marked with pale reddish 

 blotches. 



Mr. Gibson compares its cry to a " wild human laugh," and also 

 writes : " Its whereabouts may often be detected by an attendant flock 

 of Caranchos (Polyborus tharus), particularly in the case of a young 

 bird. As soon as it rises from the ground or from a tree, these begin 

 to persecute it, ascending spirally also, and making dashes at it, while 

 the Eagle only turns its head watchfully from side to side, the mere 

 action being sufficient to avert the threatened collision." 



Gay, in his ' Natural History of Chili/ describes the affectionate and 

 amusing habits of an Eagle of this species which he had tamed. It 

 took great delight in playing with his hand, and would seize and pre- 

 tend to bite one of his fingers, but really with as much tenderness as a 

 playful dog displays when pretending to bite its master. It used also 

 to amuse itself by picking up a pebble in its beak, and with a jerk of 

 its head toss it up in the air, then seize it in its claws when it fell, after 

 which it would repeat the performance. 



VOL. II. 



