264 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



with locality, for whereas in the Southern United States they act as scavengers in the towns, in 

 Guatemala and other places in Central America they are not seen in flocks, but occur in pairs only in 

 the forests. As in the case of the other Vultures, their food consists of can-ion, and they are found 

 in large numbers in deserts, where they obtain, an ample supply of food in the animals which perish. 

 The Turkey Vulture is about two feet and a half in length. The plumage is black with a purplish 

 gloss, and in life the bare head and neck are of a bright red colour, which soon fades after death. 



BRAZILIAN CAKACAUA. 



FAMILY FALCONID^E. THE FALCON-LIKE HAWKS. 



THE FIRST SUB-FAMILY. THE CARACARAS (Polyborina). 



All the members of this sub-family are more or less Vulturine in their habits and appearance, 

 and many of them are carrion feeders. The name " Caracara " with which these birds are here 

 designated is of Brazilian origin, and all the species included under the present heading are 

 inhabitants of Central and Southern America, with the exception of the Secretary Bird of Africa. 

 They all seem to be at home on the ground, and they differ from all other birds of prey 

 in having a membrane which joins the base of the two outer toes to the middle one, a feature 

 which is doubtless useful to the birds when wallowing in the marshy ground, which many 

 of them frequent in quest of frogs, &c. The Southern Cai'acai-as (Ibycter australis) are said 

 to run with extreme quickness, putting out one leg before the other, and stretching forward their 

 bodies very much like Pheasants. Mr. Darwin, who became acquainted with these birds during 

 his voyage in the Beagle, says that their flesh is good to eat, and he gives a very interesting 



