SCA VENGER VULTURES—CARACARAS. 



307 



The Egyptian Scavenger Vulture ia a more than ordinarily foul feeder, 

 even for one of its kind, and frequents human habitations, where it devours 

 all kinds of ofial and excrement, but it will at other times devour lizards, 

 snakes, and small rodents, as well as worms, insects, and even fruit. 

 According to the late C. J. Andersson, it is said to devour ostrich eggs, by 

 carrying a stone up into the air and dropping it upon them. The nest is 

 generally placed on cliffs, but sometimes on trees. 



Of the True Hawks there are five sub-families, the Caracaras (Polyboriiicf), 

 the Long-legged Hawks {Accipitrince), the Buzzards (Buteonince), the Eagles 

 {AipiUinde), and the Falcons {Falconince). 



Of the Caiaoaras there are but two genera, Polyhorus and Ihyder. They 

 are distinguished from the other Hawks by having the outer and inner toe 

 connected to the middle one by a mem- 

 brane or web. In all the other sub- 

 families there is a web only between 

 the base of the outer and middle toes. 

 Polyhorus has but two species, P. tharus, 

 of South America, which is found from 

 the Straits of Magellan to Amazonia, and 

 P. cheriway, which occurs from Ecuador 

 and Guiana, through Central America, 

 into the Southern United States. 



Mr. W. H. Hudson has given a long 

 and interesting account of the habits of 

 the "Carancho," as the Polyborus is 

 called in Argentina. It is too long to be 

 given in its entirety, but we cannot refrain 

 from making a few extracts: — "The 

 Caranchos pair for life, and may there- 

 fore be called social birds. They also 

 often live and hunt in families of the 

 parents and youngbirds until thefollowing 

 spring, and at all times several individuals 

 will readily combine to attack their prey, but they never live or move about 

 in flocks. Each couple has its own home or resting-place, which they will 

 continue to use for an indefinite time, roosting on the same branch and 

 occupying the same nest year after year; while at all times the two birds are 

 seen constantly together, and seem very much attached. Azara relates that 

 he once saw a male pounce down on a frog, and, carrying it to a tree, call 

 his mate to him and make her a present of it. It was not a very magnificent 

 present, but the action seems to show that the bird possesses some commend- 

 able qualities which are seldom seen in the Raptorial family. Without doubt 

 it is a carrion-eater, but only, I believe, when it cannot get fresh provisions ; 

 for, when famished, it will eat anything rather than study its dignity and 

 suffer hunger like the nobler Eagle. I have frequently seen one or two or 

 three of them together on the ground, under a column of winged ants, 

 eagerly feasting on the falling insects. To eat putrid meat if must be very 

 hungry indeed. It is, however, amazingly fond of freshly-killed flesh ; and, 

 when a cow is slaughtered at an estancia-house, the Carancho quickly 

 appears on the scene to claim his share, and, catching up the first thing he 

 can lift, he carries it off before the dogs can deprive him of it. When he 

 has risen to a height of five or sis yards in the a-ir he drops the meat from 



Fiff. 62 —The Brazilian Caracara 

 {Potyborus ihai-us). 



