CARACAEAS. 629 



fligbt, and is always in motion, never halting except to seize its 

 prey ; it is very wild, and can only be approached when feeding. 



The Caracaras {Polyborus, Vieillot) are a race of birds which 

 form a link between the Falcon and the Vulture families. They 

 have, like the latter, the projecting crop, goggle eyes, head partly 

 bare of feathers, toes long, especially the middle one, and the 

 claws but slightly crooked. They show a decided taste for putrid 

 carrion. They do not, however, feed exclusively on it, for when 

 opportunity offers they will capture mammals, young birds, rep- 

 tiles, moUusks, grasshoppers, and even worms. These birds are 

 essentially pedestrians ; the slight curvation of their claws renders 

 this easy, and it is not an unfrequent thing to see them walk at 

 a slow pace for considerable distances. 



Their name is derived from the cry which they utter. They are 

 peculiar to South America, in which they are found in every 

 latitude, and at all altitudes. They present, however, differences 

 according to the region which they inhabit. Each species fixes 

 itself in a zone, which becomes its special place of habitation. 

 Thus the Brazilian Caracara (Fig. 300) is met with everywhere, 

 from the coldest districts to the hottest countries, but only at a 

 slight altitude, and in company with the Chimango Caracara 

 {Milvago chimango), whilst the summits of the Andes are inhabited 

 by the Long-winged Caracara {M. megalopterus) ; and the Ohima- 

 chima Caracara {M. chimachima) inhabits the burning plains 

 between the tropics. 



The Caracaras, especially the common species and the Chimango, 

 are distinguished from the other Falconides by an excessive amount 

 of sociability : everywhere they seek out the vicinity of man. But 

 we should be labouring under a mistake if we supposed that affec- 

 tion had any share in this alliance ; egotism and self-interest are 

 the motives which impel them to act thus. It is to feed at his 



expense to devour the fragments of his meals, kill his Domestic 



Fowls or take possession of the pieces of meat which are hung in 

 the sun to dry. This bird, however, is useful, for it most efficiently 

 performs the duties of scavengers. 



The Caracara will craftily follow the sportsman, and steal away 

 game that is not quickly bagged. It also accompanies travellers 

 across the vast pampas to prey on the carcasses of the worn-out 



