( 351 ) 

 CARACARA EAGLE. 



POLYBORUS BrAZILIENSIS, ViEILL. 

 PLATE CLXI. Vol. II. p. 350. 



Although this bird has a great affinity to the Turkey Buzzard 

 Cathartes Aura, it differs considerably in some of its habits. It always 

 by preference places its nest on a tree, but when none is to be found, 

 builds on the top of a low bush, rather than deposit its eggs on the 

 ground, as our Vultures are wont to do. Nests of the Caracara found 

 in the Floridas by Dr Bemjamin Sthobel, were placed on the highest 

 branches of the tall trees in the pine barrens, whilst those met with in 

 the Texas were in a good many instances built on the tops of bushes 

 not more than seven or eight feet high. The nest which is formed of 

 dry sticks, is pretty large, rather flat, and rudely lined with small roots, 

 grass, or moss, when the latter can be procured. Like the Turkey 

 Buzzard, this bird lays only two eggs. In its mode of flying during the 

 breeding season, its movements through the air so much more resemble 

 those of a Hawk than any other bird, that the first pair seen on Galves- 

 ton Island in the Texas, were considered by us as belonging to some 

 unknown species of that family, in consequence of which we bestowed 

 much time on endeavoiu-ing to procure them. While removing from 

 a tree or bush to a distance they usually flew swiftly over the ground, 

 with continuous beats of their wings ; and on alighting, they would at 

 once assume an erect posture, and by the slenderness of their form and 

 long tail continue to deceive us. 



Dr Strobel carried a pair of young birds of this species alive to 

 Charleston for me, and consigned them to the charge of my friend Dr 

 Bachman, who kept them upwards of a year. They were male and 

 female, but the former was not merely at all times rude to his com- 

 panion, but often extremely tyrannical, seldom missing an opportunity 

 of annoying her by repeated and violent blows, accompanied with loud 

 cries of anger and exultation ; insomuch as to force her into one of the 

 corners of the aviary, where she would at times lie for several minutes 

 on her back, stretching out her legs and talons to defend herself against 

 her unmerciful assailant. Her cries were harsh and disagreeable, as 

 were those of the male, but the latter alone was in the habit of throwing 

 back its head, opening its mouth, swelling out its throat, and erecting 



