88 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



to punish an offender^ and in some cases the punish- 

 ment is death. 



Their cry is exceedingly loud and harsh, a short 

 abrupt note, like cmk, repeated twice ; after which, 

 if the bird is violently agitated, as when wounded or 

 fighting, it throws its head backwards until the crown 

 rests on the back, and rocks it from side to side, 

 accompanying the action with a prolonged piercing 

 cry of great power. This singular gesture of the 

 Carancho, unique among birds, seems to express 

 very forcibly a raging spirit. 



The nest is built in a variety of situations : on 

 trees, where there are any, but on the treeless pampas, 

 where the Carancho is most at home, it is made on 

 the ground, sometimes among the tall grass, while 

 a very favourite site is a small islet or mound of 

 earth rising well out of the water. When a suitable 

 place has been found, the birds will continue to use 

 the same nest for many consecutive years. It is a 

 very large, slovenly structure of sticks, mixed with 

 bones, pieces of skin, dry dung, and any portable 

 object the bird may find to increase the bulk of his 

 dwelling. The eggs are three or four, usually the 

 last number, slightly oval, and varying greatly in 

 colour and markings, some having irregular dark red 

 blotches on a cream-coloured ground, while others 

 are entirely of a deep brownish red, with a few black 

 marks and blotches. 



