66 MALDONADO. [chAp. hi. 



together with the Chimango, constantly attend in lumbers the 

 estancias and slaughtering-houses. If an animal dies on the plain 

 the Gallinazo commences the feast, and then the two species 01 

 Pclyborus pick the bones clean. These birds, although thus 

 commonly feeding together, are far from being friends. When 

 the Carrancha is quietly seated on the branch of a tree or on the 

 ground, the Chimango often continues for a long time flying 

 backwards and forwards, up and down, in a semicircle, trying 

 each time at the bottom of the curve to strike its larger relative. 

 The Carrancha takes little notice, except by bobbing its head. 

 Although the Carranchas frequently assemble in numbers, they 

 are not gregarious ; for in desert places they may be seen solitary, 

 or more commonly by pairs. 



The Carranchas are said to be very crafty, and to steal great 

 numbers of eggs. They attempt, also, together with the Chi- 

 mango, to pick off the scabs from the sore backs of horses 

 and mules. The poor animal, on the one hand, with its ears 

 down and its back arched ; and, on the other, the hovering bird, 

 eyeing at the distance of a yard, the disgusting morsel, form a 

 picture, which has been described by Captain Head with his own 

 peculiar spirit and accuracy. These false eagles most rarely 

 kill any living bird or animal ; and their vulture-like, necropha- 

 gous habits are very evident to any one, who has fallen asleep on 

 the desolate plains of Patagonia, for when he wakes, he will see, 

 on each surrounding hillock, one of these birds patiently watch- 

 ing him with an evil eye : it is a feature in the landscape oi 

 these countries, which will be recognised by every one who has 

 wandered over them. If a party of men go out hunting witli 

 dogs and horses, they will be accompanied, during the day, by 

 several of these attendants. After feeding, the uncovered craw 

 protrudes ; at such times, and indeed generally, the Carrancha 

 is an inactive, tame, and cowardly bird. Its flight is heavy and 

 slow, like that of an English rook. It seldom soars ; but I have 

 twice seen one at a great height gliding through the air with 

 much ease. It runs (in contradistinction to hopping), but not 

 quite so quickly as some of its congeners. At times the Carran- 

 cha is noisy, but is not generally so: its cry is loud, very 

 harsh and peculiar, and may be likened to the sound of the 

 Spanish guttural g, followed by a rough double rr; when utter- 



