88 FALCONID^. 



on the small of the neck just behind the head, while in some cases the 

 head had been completely wrenched off. 



The Gauchos, when snaring Partridges (Tinamous), frequently bribe 

 the Caranchos to assist them. The snarer has a long slender cane with 

 a small noose at the extremity, and when he sights a Partridge he 

 gallops round it in circles until the bird crouches close in the grass ; 

 then the circles are narrowed and the pace slackened, while he extends 

 the cane, and lowers it gradually over the bewildered bird until the 

 small noose is dropped over its head and it is caught. Many Partridges 

 are not disposed to sit still to be taken in this open barefaced way ; 

 but if the snarer keeps a Carancho hovering about by throwing him an 

 occasional gizzard, the wariest Partridge is so stricken with fear that it 

 will sit still and allow itself to be caught. 



In the love-season the male Caranchos are frequently seen fighting ; 

 and sometimes, when the battle is carried on at a great height in the 

 air, the combatants are seen clasped together and falling swiftly towards 

 the earth ; but in all the contests I have witnessed the birds have not 

 been so blinded with passion as to fall the whole distance before sepa- 

 rating. Besides these single combats, in which unpaired or jealous 

 males engage in the love-season, there are at all times occasional dis- 

 sensions amongst them, the cause of which it would be difficult to 

 determine. Here again, as often in hunting, the birds combine to 

 punish an offender, and in some cases the punishment is death. 



Their cry is exceedingly loud and harsh, a short abrupt note, like 

 cruk, repeated twice ; after which, if the bird is violently agitated, as 

 when wounded or fighting, it throws its head backwards until the crown 

 rests on the back, and rocks it from side to side, accompanying the 

 action with a prolonged piercing cry of great power. This singular 

 gesture of the Carancho, unique among birds, seems to express very 

 forcibly a raging spirit, or, perhaps, rage mingled with despair. 



The nest is built in a variety of situations : on trees, where there are 

 any, but on the treeless pampas, where the Carancho is most at home, 

 it is made on the ground, sometimes among the tall grass, while a very 

 favourite site is a small islet or mound of earth rising well out of the 

 water. When a suitable place has been found, the birds will continue 

 to use the same nest for many consecutive years. It is a very large 

 slovenly structure of sticks, mixed with bones, pieces of skin, dry dung, 

 and any portable object the bird may find to increase the bulk of his 

 dwelling. The eggs are three or four, usually the last number, slightly 

 oval, and varying greatly in colour and markings, some having irregular 

 dark red blotches on a cream-coloured ground, while others are entirely 

 of a deep brownish red, with a few black marks and blotches. 



