CAEACARAS. ' 247 



rather broad alternating bands of black-and-white. The head is crested, and the 



black tail has a narrow white tip, and a broadish band of white at a distance of 



about one-third from the end. This species has a wide range in Africa ; but it is 



replaced in Madagascar by P. radiatus, distinguished by its silver-grey colour above, 



and the finer banding of the under-parts. These birds prey chiefly upon lizards, 



snakes, and frogs ; and they possess the unique peculiarity of being able to move 



the ankle-joint both forwards as well as backwards, thus giving an extraordinary 



range of movement to the lower part of the leg, which is said to be of the greatest 



advantage in extracting their reptilian prey from the crannies where they lie 



concealed. Like the harpy-eagles, these hawks often seek for reptiles along the 



line of jungle-fires, while they frequent marshes and swamps in search of frogs. 



The toes are remarkable for their extreme lateral compression, which is said to be 



also a feature admirably adapted for capturing the reptiles on which these birds 



prey. In addition to reptiles, it is stated that these hawks will also kill and eat 



small birds and mammals, especially such of the latter as, like shrews, frequent 



moist localities. Nothing appears to have been ascertained with regard to their 



breeding-habits. 



The remaining members of the hawk family are mainly South 

 The Caraca.ra.s. >/ <j 



American, and constitute a subfamily by themselves. These birds, 



which are commonly designated caracaras, from a corruption of the native name of 



their Brazilian representatives, differ not only in general appearance from more 



typical hawks, but likewise in the mode of life. In the first place, whereas in all 



other members of the family the third and fourth toes alone are connected together 



at their bases by a small web, in the caracaras both the second and fourth toes are so 



connected with the middle one. They are all long-legged birds, with the metatarsus 



naked; and the beak is generally characterised by its depth and compression, 



while there is more or less naked skin on the sides of the face. In their general 



habits they are chiefly terrestrial, and nest on the ground ; and as they run well 



and rapidly, they recall in these respects the gallinaceous birds. Mr. W. H. Hudson 



remarks that they are " carrion-eaters, also killers on their own account, and, like 



wild dogs, sometimes hunt in packs, which gives them an advantage. They are the 



unfailing attendants of all flesh-hunters, human or feline, and also furiously pursue 



and persecute all eagles and true vultures that venture on the pampas." Formerly 



the caracaras were considered to be allied to the secretary- vulture, but their true 



affinities are now known to be nearer to the harriers, and, according to the observer 



just quoted, when on the wing the smaller species present a striking resemblance 



to the latter. 



BrazUian The caracaras may be divided into two genera, according to the 



caracara. form of the nostrils. The largest member of the group is the 



Brazilian caracara, known in the Argentine as the carancha {Polyborus tharus), 



and belonging to the genus with oval nostrils. This fine bird, which ranges over 



the whole of South America, may be compared in size to a small eagle, attaining 



a length of fully 26 inches. Its head is crested, and the ground-colour of the 



upper-parts deep blackish brown, with the feathers of the back and wing-coverts 



marked with narrow whitish cross-bars. The tail is mostly huffish white, with 



darker bars ; and the sides of the head and under-parts are of the same ground-colour. 



