CARANCHO 77 



Indian name for the Carancho in these regions 

 is Tram (from its harsh cry), misspelt Tham by 

 Molina, a Spanish priest who wrote a book on the 

 birds of Chili in the eighteenth century ; hence the 

 specific name tharus. 



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, 

 A2#ra 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. 



In uninhabited places I have always found the 

 Caranchos just as abundant as in the settled districts ; 

 and after a deer has been pulled down by the dogs 

 I have seen as many as seventy or eighty birds 

 congregate to feed on its flesh within half an hour, 

 although not one had been previously visible, 

 D'Orbigny describes the bird as a parasite on man, 

 savage and civilised, following him everywhere to 

 feed on the leavings when he slays wild or domestic 



