6 BIRDS OF PREY. 



seen jealously contending with each other, both in and out of 

 the carcase, defiled with blood and filth, holding on with their 

 feet, hissing and clawing each other, or tearing off morsels so 

 as to fill their throats nearly to choking, and occasionally 

 joined by growling dogs, — the whole presenting one of the 

 most savage and disgusting scenes in nature, and truly worthy 

 the infernal bird of Prometheus. 



This species is very rarely seen north of the Carolinas, though 

 a few examples have been taken in New England and at Grand 

 Marian. 



AUDUBON'S CARACARA. 



CARACARA EAGLE. KING BUZZARD. 

 POLYEORUS CHERIWAV. 



Char. General color brownish black ; fore part of back and breast 

 barred with white ; tail white, with bars of black. Length 20J to 25 inches. 



JVesf. On a low tree or bush ; made of sticks and leaves. 



£^^^s. 2-4 (usually 2) ; brownish white or pale brown, blotched with 

 deeper brown ; 2.30 X 1.75. 



This very remarkable and fine bird was first met with by Mr. 

 Audubon near St. Augustine, in East Florida. He afterwards 

 also found it on Galveston Island, in Texas. From its general 

 habits and graceful, sweeping flight, it was for some time mis- 

 taken for a Hawk. Though common in many parts of South 

 America, it is within the limits of the United States merely an 

 accidental visitor. It is said, however, to breed in Florida, in 

 the highest branches of tall trees in the pine-barrens, making 

 a rough nest of sticks like a Hawk. In Texas it breeds, accord- 

 ing to Audubon, in the tops of bushes. 



Since Nuttall wrote, the Caracara has been found in numbers 

 in parts of Florida, and it is not uncommon in Texas, southern 

 Arizona, and Lower California. 



