180 NORTH AiMKIUCAX BIRDS. 



speaks of killing a male bird nn tlie iiost, wliioli was in a low tree ami 

 comjxjsed of sticks. Hi^ adds tliat this l)ird destroys the Te.\us field-rats 

 {SigmoJoii licrhdii/liri) in large niinihers. 



Dr. Heerinann met witli this species on the (.'olorado Kiver, near Fort 

 Yuma, in company with llie Cal/utr/oi aunt. He found it so shy that it was 

 impossible to i)r(jcure a si)ecinieu. He found it along the (lila liiver, and 

 again met with it in Texas M'herever there were settlements. ^Vt San .Anto- 

 nio, wherever there were slaughter-houses, he met with them in great num- 

 bers, twenty or tliiity lieing often seen at a time. 



Grayson gives the t'aranint as (piite abundant in the Tres ^larias. Al- 

 though it sidisists mainly on dead animals and other olfal, it is .said to some- 

 times capture young liirds, lizards, snakes, and land-crabs. It generally 

 cari'ies its prey in its beak: but Colonel (irayson states that he has seen it 

 also bear olf its h)od in its claws, as Hawks do. It walks with facility 

 on the ground, and was often met with in the thick woods, walking al)out in 

 search of snake.«. ^Ir. Xantus found it nesting at f'ape San Lucas, ]ilacing 

 its nest on the t()[) of the Cm ua i/ii/aiifri's. It occurs also in the West Indies, 

 especially in the island of Cuba, wher( it is known to breed. Kggs were 

 obtained and identiiieil l)y the l.ate Dr. Derlandier, of Matamoras, in North- 

 ern Me.xico, on the Iiio Grande, in considerable inimbers. 



Mr. Salvin (Ibi.s, I, 214) says the C'linirnrti is universal in its distribution 

 in Central America, a]i])earing eipially aliuudant everywhere. At Duenas it 

 was a constant resident, breeding on the surrounding hills. Its food seemed 

 to consist largely of the ticks that iid'csted the animals. In Honduras Mr. 

 G. C. Taylor found them very connnon, ipiite tame, and easily shot. Tliey 

 feed on carrion ami otfal, were often seen sci'atcliing among the half-dry 

 cow-dung, and are "a very low caste bird." Mr. K. C Taylor (Ibis, VI, 7l>) 

 freijuently saw this bird on the .shores of the Orinoco. It was very tame, 

 and generally allowed a near approach, and when ilisturbed ditl not ily far. 

 He did not meet with it in Trinidad. 



On the Iiio Grande the po])ular name of this species is Tularhc, while in 

 Cliile the /'. tharmi is called Troro, \n\t its more connnon name throughout 

 South America is CarniiiclKi. 



According to Audubon, the flight of this liird is at great heights, is more 

 graceful than that of the X'ultin'c, and consists of alternai " Ha])ping and 

 sailing. It often sails in large circles, gliding in a very elegant manner, now 

 and th(Mi diving downwiirds and then rising again. 



These birds feed on frogs, insects, worms, young alligators, carrion, and 

 various other forms of animal food. Mr. Audubon states that he lias seen 

 them walk about in the water in search of food, catching frogs, young alli- 

 gators, etc. It is harndess and inoffensive, and in the destruction of vermin 

 renders valuable services. It builds a coar.se, flat nest, composed of flags, 

 reeds, and grass, usually on the tops of trees, but occasionally, according to 

 Darwin, on a low cliff, or even on a bush. 



