302 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



from the hides of oxen. D'Azara states that it neglects 

 the smaller birds because it is unable to catch them ; 

 but this is denied by Prince Maximilian, who informs 

 us that in the stomachs of those which he opened he 

 found the remains of small birds, and insects, especially 

 grasshoppers, which are extremely abundant in its 

 favourite localities. 



The Caracara lives either alone or in pairs ; but 

 sometimes four or five individuals unite to pursue a 

 prey that a single one would be unable to master. In 

 this manner D'Azara states that he has himself seen 

 them hunt down red buzzards, herons, and other large 

 birds ; and it is generally believed that they contrive by 

 the same means to destroy the American ostrich, young 

 fawns, and lambs. Not content with the prey which 

 they have themselves procured, they often feast upon 

 that which has been taken by others. Thus if a 

 Caracara sees a vulture devour a piece of flesh, it will 

 pursue him and compel him to disgorge it. The 

 sportsman too is not unfrequently foiled by the inter- 

 vention of this bird, which wall carry otf his game 

 before his eyes. It makes its advances, with as little 

 shyness as the vultures, to the very precincts of inha- 

 bited places, where, perched on the trees, on the 

 house-tops, or stalking along upon the ground, it takes 

 no pains to conceal itself. In fact no one troubles it, 

 for its flesh is quite unfit to eat, and it is rarely that 

 it makes itself obnoxious by an attack on the domestic 

 poultry. 



The Society's specimen became an inhabitant of the 

 Garden in the course of the summer of 1830, and 

 bears itself in captivity like others of the Eagle tribe, 

 though it does not possess the sedate deportment of 

 the more powerful among them. 



