58 CASSELL'S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



period of incubation the Chimango is somewhat less quarrelsome towards its associates than at other 

 seasons of the year, and exhibits great affection for its young. 



THE VULTURE BUZZARD. 



The Vulture Buzzard (Milvago Australis) is also a well-known inhabitant of South America, 

 and is particularly numerous in the Falkland Islands. In size this species resembles the Spotted 

 Eagle {Aquila ncevid). The plumage of the adult birds is deep black, the feathers upon the back, 

 neck, and breast being streaked with white ; the hose are bright reddish brown ; the origin of the 

 quills and tips of the tail feathers white. The beak is grey, the cere and feet of a yellow shade. 

 The young are without the light streaks upon the neck and breast, the feathers on these parts being 

 speckled with red or reddish white. The quills are rust red at the base, the tail blackish brown, 

 the beak deep brown, and the feet brownish yellow. Abbott tells us that these birds will fall upon 

 and devour such of their own species as have been wounded ; and that they are so covetous and 

 inquisitive that he has known them drag a large hat and two balls to the distance of a mile from 

 the spot on which they were first discovered. According to another authority, they are so violent 

 in their disposition that it is not uncommon for them to root up the grass when they are in a 

 particularly troublesome humour. Upon the ground they run with all the agility of a pheasant, and 

 are then very elegant in their appearance ; when perched we cannot pay them the same compliment, 

 as their crop is often so enormously distended as to excite strong feelings of disgust. The Vultuie 

 Buzzard spends but little of its time in the air, through which it may be said to walk rather than 

 fly, so peculiar and heavy are its movements when upon the wing. It is noisy in its habits, and 

 possesses a loud harsh voice, much resembling that of the Crow ; whilst uttering its very disagreeable 

 but varied notes, the head is repeatedly thrown backwards and forwards, after the manner of its con- 

 geners. The eyrie is built upon the precipitous rocks that abound upon the coast, and is usually 

 formed of dry blades of tussock grass, lined with wool. The two or three eggs of which a brood 

 consists are round, brown, and variegated with dark spots and streaks. The female lays about 

 November, and Abbott tells us that the young do not attain their full beauty until they are two 

 years old. 



THE CARANCHO. 



The Carancho or Traro (Polybort(s vulgaris or Polyborus Brasiliensis) is found extensively 

 throughout South America. The group of which this bird may be regarded as the type, is characterised 

 by a slender body and powerful wings (in which the third quill is the longest) that extend almost to 

 the end of the tail ; the feathers of the latter are ragged at the tips, as in the tail of the Vulture. 

 The legs are long, the toes short, and the talons strong, sharp, and but slightly curved. The beak 

 is large, high, straight at its base, and only slightly bent. The plumage is heavy and lustreless. 

 The feathers upon the head, neck, and breast, are narrow ; those on the back large and rounded. 

 The cheek-stripes, as well as the region of the chin and crop, are so sparsely covered with short 

 bristles that they appear to be bare. The length of the Carancho is about one foot two inches ; 

 its breadth more than four feet; the wing measures above fourteen, and the tail above seven 

 inches ; the feathers upon the top and back of the head can be raised so as to form a crest. 

 The back is dark brown striped with white ; the wings are of the same deep shade, streaked with 

 a paler tint upon the posterior quills and wing-covers ; the cheeks, chin, throat, and upper part 

 of the breast are white or yellowish white ; the sides of the throat and breast streaked like the 

 back. The belly, legs, and rump are of an uniform blackish brown ; the tail feathers are white, 

 tipped broadly with blackish brown and thickly covered with extremely fine brown lines ; the eye 





