CAR AVAR A EAGLE. 327 







t 



DIMENSIONS. 



Avonv.rr measurements of female specimens from Eastern North America. Length, 24-50; stretch, 48-00: wing, 16'50; 

 tail, !).>< I; hill. 1-1-J; tarsus, 3'25. Longest specimen, 25-00; greatest extent of wing, 49'W); longest wing, 17'1H); tail, 10 00; 

 liill, 1 25: tarsus, 3 50. Shortest spcvimen, 24'00; smallest extent of wing, 47'25; shortest wing, lO'OO; tail, 9'00; bill, I'OO; 

 tarsus, .TOO. 



AMT:IJ;C measurement-; of male specimen* from Eastern North America. Length, 23'50; stretch, 47'25; wing, 15-50; 

 tail. * 50; hill, -98; tarsus, 2'95. Longest ^>n-imen, 24'00; greatest extent of wing, 48-00; longest wing, 16 00: tail, 9 00; 

 hill, 1 00: tarsus, 3'00. Shortest --|M-< -initn, 23-00; smallest extent of wing, 46'50; shortest wing, 15 00; tail, 8'00; bill, '95; 

 tarsus, 290. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGS. 



firsts, placed in trees or bushes; they are bulky structures, composed of sticks, lined with roots, grass, etc., arranged 

 in a compact manner. 



KWS, two to four in number, varying from spherical to oval in form, yellowish-white or creamy in color, blotched, spot- 

 ted, and sprinkled with rr.MMi-hrown of varying shades, frequently so thickly as to nearly, or quite, obscure the ground 

 color. Dimensions from 1-80x2-25 to 1 -88x2 50. 



HABITS. 



Although the Caracara Eagles cannot be called rare in Florida, yet they are restricted 

 to a comparatively limited area, boing quite common on the prairies near the extreme head- 

 waters ol'tlu' St. John's, anil on the broad Savannas which lie about Lake Okeechobee and 

 northward along the Kissimee River. They are quite rare in other sections, being only 

 stragglers, for I do not think that they breed elsewhere than in the sections named. They 

 deposit their eggs in early spring, often placing their nests in the tops of palmetto trees 

 or occasionally on pines. 



Not only in form and odor are the Caracaras intermediate between the Eagles and 

 Vultures but they also resemble both in habits. They catch some of their booty living but 

 will feed readily upon dead animals. They are sluggish nt times but fly well; when on 

 the wing, moving in a direct line, they resemble the Black Vulture somewhat, flapping 

 and sailing alternately, but when high in air, circle like a Hawk or Eagle. 



There can be but little doubt that this species is the Sacred Vulture of Bartram who 

 .says that the feathers were greatly esteemed by the Indians as ornaments; a fact which 

 iniolit have been true enough in his time, 1791, but at the present day, the favorite decora- 

 tions of the Seminoles, are the plumes of the Ostrich. Were it not for the high reputation 

 for veracity, which one cannot avoid according to Mr. Bartram after reading his writings, 

 I should say that he had been trying to palm off a purely mythical species upon the public, 

 for much of his description does not correspond with the plumage of any known bird; but 

 it is highly probable that the description of the bird which he terms the Sacred Vulture, 

 was made from memory, some time after seeing the Caracaras, and thus the King Vult- 

 ure of South America and the true Caracara Eagle which is also known in Florida as the 

 Kiii- Buzzard, became somewhat confounded in his mind. This theory has, for its sup- 

 port, the fact that Bart ram does not mention the true Caracara as an inhabitant of Florida. 



FAMILY IX. CATHARTID^S. THE AMERICAN VULTURES. 



Feet, small and weak; claws, not very stout. Sternum, wide; keel, not high. Marginal 

 indentations, four. 



