82 FALCONID.E. 



varies greatly in disposition and habits in different districts. In Pata- 

 gonia I was surprised at its dejected appearance and skulking cowardly 

 manner, so unlike the bird I had been accustomed to see on the pampas. 

 I shot several, and they were all in a miserably poor condition and 

 apparently half-starved. It struck me that in that cold sterile country, 

 where prey is scarce, the Carancho is altogether out of place ; for it 

 there has to compete with Eagles and Vultures in large numbers ; and 

 these, it is almost needless to say, are, in their separate lines, stronger 

 than the composite and less specialized Carancho. In Patagonia he is 

 truly a ' ' miserable bird," with a very frail hold on existence. How 

 different on that illimitable grassy ocean further north, where he is the 

 lord of the feathered race, for Eagles and Vultures, that require moun- 

 tains and trees to breed and roost on, do not come there to set him 

 aside ^ there the conditions are suited to him and have served to develop 

 in him a wonderfully bold and savage spirit. When seen perched on a 

 conical ant-hill, standing erect above the tall plumy grass, he has a fine, 

 even a noble, appearance ; but when flying he is not handsome, the 

 wings being very bluntly rounded at the extremities and the flight low 

 and ungraceful. The plumage is blackish in the adult, brown in the 

 young. The sides of the head and breast are creamy white, the latter 

 transversely marked with black spots. The crown is adorned with a 

 crest or top-knot. The beak is much larger than in Eagles and Vul- 

 tures, and of a dull blue colour ; the cere and legs are bright yellow. 



The species ranges throughout South America, and from Paraguay 

 northwards is called everywhere, I believe, " Caracara." South of 

 Paraguay the Spanish name is " Carancho," possibly a corruption of 

 " Keanche," the Puelche name for the allied MiJvago chimango, in 

 imitation of its peevish cry. The Indian name for the Carancho in 

 these regions is Traru (from its harsh cry), misspelt tharu by Molina. 



The Caranchos pair for life, and may therefore be called social birds; 

 they also often live and hunt in families of the parent and young birds 

 until the following spring; and at all times several individuals will 

 readily combine to attack their prey, but they never live or move about 

 in flocks. Each couple has its own home or resting-place, which they 

 will continue to use for an indefinite time, roosting on the same branch 

 and occupying the same nest year after year ; while at all times the two 

 birds are seen constantly together and seem very much attached. Azara 

 relates that he once saw a male pounce down on a frog, and carrying it 

 to a tree call his mate to him and make her a present of it. It was 

 not a very magnificent present, but the action seems to show that the 

 bird possesses some commendable qualities which are seldom seen 

 in the raptorial family. 





