BIRDS OF PREY. 



55 



lizards and small snakes, frogs, cray-fish, crabs, and large insects. Burgess tells us he saw a Tesa 

 picking the remains of a full-grown Quail. The eyrie is built upon a tree ; the eggs, four in number, 

 are laid about April or May ; these are sometimes quite white, or white spotted and marked with 

 brown. 



South America possesses a group of Buzzards, distinguished from the birds already described, by 

 the formation of their beak, which is usually thin and shallow. The members of this group are also 

 more slender, and have smaller heads and longer wings than the rest of the family ; their wings, in 

 which the fourth quill is the longest, are narrow, very pointed, and extend beyond the end of the long 

 and broad tail ; the latter is either graduated or excised at its extremity. Their legs are weak, and 

 the tarsi bare ; the toes are long, and armed with long, slender, and slightly bent talons. 



THE CARACOLERO. 



The Caracolero, Snail Buzzard, or Hook-beaked Buzzard (Rostrhamus hatnatus), is one of 

 the members of this group with which we are most familiar. Its length is from sixteen to seventeen 

 inches, and its breadth from forty to forty-two inches ; the wing measures from thirteen to thirteen 

 and a half, and the tail from six to six and a half inches. The plumage is of an uniform dark grey, 

 shaded with pale brown upon the back and shoulders ; the narrow feathers that clothe the legs are 

 edged with red, the upper tail-covers are white at the base, and bordered with white. The eye is 

 bright blood red, the cere, cheek-stripes, corners of the mouth, half the under mandible, and the legs 

 bright orange ; the beak is black. The coloration of the young is very varied, and differs considerably 

 from that of the parent birds. 



According to D'Orbigny, the Snail Buzzards are found throughout the whole of South America, 

 where they frequent the margins of lakes and morasses, in large numbers. In their habits they are 

 social, keeping together in parties of about thirty birds; indeed, it is by no means uncommon to see a 

 dozen or more perched on the same tree. When in flight they summon each other with loud cries, 

 and all are constantly upon the watch to detect and warn their companions against approaching 

 danger. Their flight is light, graceful, and rapid, and their attitudes, when perching upon a tree, 

 extremely dignified. Except during the breeding season (respecting which we have no information), 

 they sweep over the face of the country, seldom remaining for any length of time in one place. The 

 food of this species consists of snails, reptiles, fish, and insects. Grundlach tells us that upon one 

 occasion he saw a great number of nests built upon the trees that surrounded a large pond, and was 

 told that they were those of the Caracolero ; the young had already quitted the eyries, though it was 

 then only April. 



THE URUBITINGA. 

 The Urubitinga (Hypomorphnus Urubitinga) is one of the largest Buzzards with which we are 

 acquainted. Its beak is comparatively short, high, and straight towards the base, but from thence it 

 curves downwards in a long hook ; the head is large, the wings, in which the third quill is longer than 

 the fourth and fifth, are of moderate size ; the tail is very long, and composed of broad feathers. 

 The feet are remarkably high, the tarsi being twice the length of the middle toe ; the talons are 

 strong, pointed, and much bent. The plumage is rich in texture. The cheeks, region of the eyes, 

 bridles, and throat are sparsely covered with a bristle-like growth ; the eyelids have very well developed 

 eyelashes. The length of this species is about twenty-two inches, and its breadth fifty-one inches ; the 

 wing measures fifteen and a half, and the tail nine inches ; the female is larger than her mate. In 

 old birds the plumage is principally brownish black ; the feathers on the nape are white at their origin, 



