352 CARACARA EAGLE. 



the feathers of its head, while loudly screaming. On being laid hold 

 of with the hand, both bit and scratched me so severely as to force me 

 to let them go. They fed indifferently on dead and living animals, 

 such as rats, cats, and fowls of various sorts, and shewed a power of 

 carrying off their victims in their talons, such as Hawks and Eagles 

 exhibit, but of which our Vultures are destitute. While feeding, they 

 would stand upon the quarry, with their claws thrust into it, and tear 

 off the hair or feathers, along with the flesh, both of which they swal- 

 lowed. They devoured great quantities at a time, but could support priva- 

 tion of food for several days. Like other birds of prey, they drank 

 frequently. In the second spring, their plumage became barred trans- 

 versely, as represented in my plate, my specimen having been drawn 

 before the second moult had taken place. As these birds become older, 

 these transverse bars assume more regularity, and their colours acquire 

 deeper tints. Owing to the differences thus produced in their appear- 

 ance, the old birds have been named Polyhorus Mexicanus, while the 

 young have been called P. vulgaris. In the Texas these birds are 

 viewed as Eagles, but I saw none of them there pounce on living ani- 

 mals, unless the latter had been wounded, in which case they would at- 

 tack Ducks and other birds. They are at all times extremely vigi- 

 lant and suspicious, so that it is very difficult to approach them. As 

 the species first received the name of Brasiliensis, it ought to retain 

 that specific appellation, in preference to vulgaris. 



An adult male, from Florida, presented by Dr Strobel, and pre- 

 served in spirits, presents the following characters : — The affinity of 

 this bird to the Vultures is evinced in its exterior by the large portion 

 of the fore part and sides of the head which is nearly bare, by the skin 

 lying over the large crop being also destitute of feathers, and by the 

 comparative shortness of the hind toe, as well as the slight curve of the 

 claws. 



The mouth is comparatively narrow, being 1 inch 1 twelfth in 

 width. In other respects it is similar to that of the Hawks, there be- 

 ing a very prominent median ridge in its anterior part, and two para- 

 lel ridges along the palate. The posterior aperture of the nares is 

 linear-oblong behind, linear anteriorly, 1^ inch long, with the usual 

 transverse papillate ridges or flaps. The tongue is 1 inch 2 twelfths 

 long, fleshy, narrower at the base than is usual in Hawks, emarginate 

 and papillate ; it is also covered above at the base with very numerous 



