BIRDS OF PREY. 



61 



The body of this species is slender ; its tail so long that the wings only reach as far as its 

 middle portion ; the tarsi are of moderate size, and equal the middle toe in length ; the beak is 

 long, narrow, and arched gently towards its tip, which is slightly hooked. The bridles, cheeks, 

 and throat are bare, only the small portion of the cheek-stripes that passes behind the cere being 

 covered with very long fine bristles. The length of this species is about twenty-two inches, its 

 breadth forty-two to forty-five inches, the wing measures fifteen inches and a half, and the tail nine 

 and a half. The plumage upon the head, throat, nape, back, wings, tail, breast, and sides of the 



TRACK ACROSS THE PAMPAS. 



upper part of the belly are of a resplendent black, which gleams with a green lustre ; the lower 

 part of the legs and belly are white. The eyes are bright red; the cere, corners of the mouth, 

 and base of the lower mandible a beautiful light blue; the bare parts of the face reddish brown. 

 The young are paler in their colours and their feathers are surrounded by a brown border ; their 

 eyes are brown. 



We learn from the Prince von Wied that this bird inhabits the primitive forests, or such parts 

 of the country as are barren and unfrequented. " It was not," says this author, " until I reached 

 the districts that lie between the rivers Itheos and Pardo, in fifteen degrees south latitude, that 



