Mr Dalgleisli on Birds and Eggs from Central Uruguay. 237 



found on dry plains, unless near a stream. Feeding chiefly 

 on carrion, it never attacks a living animal. In Charlestown 

 and Savannah, in the Southern States of North America, 

 these birds act as scavengers, and are semi-domestic. They 

 are often seen in hundreds at a carcase, and are generally 

 gregarious. In stormy weather they fly high, beating their 

 wings heavily, and not sailing as does their congener, the 

 Turkey buzzard. Mr Layard says, that at Para in Brazil, 

 they remain on wing at a great height, from 9 or 9.30 a.m. 

 till 3 or 4 p.m., feeding before and after these hours respec- 

 tively. In early morning they sit on the trees there, in rows, 

 with outspread wings, presenting a strange appearance. 



A clutch of two eggs, taken 2d October 1878. They were 

 laid beside the root of a tree, on the bare ground, in a boggy 

 place. They measure 2|4 x If-^, and 2f -J x l|-g. inches, re- 

 spectively. 



The eggs seldom, if ever, exceed two in number, and are 

 usually laid in a hollow tree, or on the ground. Their 

 average weight is about a pound. They are slightly larger 

 than those of the Turkey buzzard, although the latter is a 

 bigger bird. The ground colour is of a yellowish white, 

 with blotches of dark reddish brown, and smaller markings 

 of a lilac shade. These markings are generally more numer- 

 ous at the larger end. The Qgg is figured by D'Orbigny. 



2. Mihago chimango (Viell.) — The Chimango is found 

 generally distributed, from the latitude of Arica in Peru, as 

 far south nearly as the Straits of Magellan, and also in 

 Brazil. Like the next species, with which it much associates, 

 it attaches itself to man, and to the neighbourhood of in- 

 habited places. It prefers dry localities, except when 

 resting, and is more found on plains than in mountainous 

 parts. Its food consists of dead animals, reptiles, insects, 

 and young chickens, for as a robber of the farm yard it is much 

 detested. It is a very quarrelsome bird, and two cannot 

 remain within a few yards of each other without a figlit 

 ensuing, although it does not attack other species, like the 

 Caracara. Unlike the latter, it does not much affect the 

 woods, but perches on a house, a rising ground, or a rock, 

 seeking the shade, however, in the heat of the day. Its 



