h6 MALDONADU. (crap. 111 
together with the Chimango, constantly attend in numbers the 
estancias and slaughtering-houses. Ifan animal dies on the plain 
the Gallinazo commences the feast, and then the two species o1 
Polyborus pick the bones clean. These birds, although thus 
commonly feeding together, are far from being friends. When 
the Carrancha is quietly seated on the branch of a tree or on the 
ground, the Chimango often continues for a long time flying 
backwards and forwards, up and down, in a semicircle, trying 
each time at the bottom of the curve to strike its larger relative. 
The Carrancha takes little notice, except by bobbing its head. 
Although the Carranchas frequently assemble in numbers, they 
are not gregarious ; for in desert places they may be seen solitary, 
or more commonly by pairs. 
The Carranchas are said to be very crafty, and to steal great 
numbers of eggs. They attempt, also, together with the Chi-. 
mango, to pick off the scabs from the sore backs of horses 
and mules. The poor animal, cn the one hand, with its ears 
down and its back arched; and, on the other, the hovering bird, 
eyeing at the distance of a yard, the disgusting morsel, form a 
picture, which has been described by Captain Head with his own 
peculiar spirit and accuracy. These false eagles most rarely 
kill any living bird or animal ; and their vulture-like, necropha- 
gous habits are very evident to any one, who has fallen asleep on 
the desdlate plains of Patagonia, for when he wakes, he will see, 
on each surrounding hillock, one of these birds patiently watch- 
ing him with an evil eye: it is a feature in the landscape of 
these countries, which will be recognised by every one who has 
wandered over them. If a party of men go out hunting with 
dogs and horses, they wilf be accompanied, during: the day, by 
several of these attendants. After feeding, the uncovered craw 
protrudes; at such times, and indeed generally, the Carrancha 
is an inactive, tame, and cowardly bird. Its flight is heavy and 
slow, like that of an English rook. It setdom soars; but I have 
twice seen one ata great height gliding through the air with 
much ease. It runs (in contradistinction to hopping), but not 
quite so quickly as some of its congeners. At times the Carran- 
cha is noisy, but is not generally so: its ery is loud, very 
harsh and peculiar, and may be likened to the sound of the 
Spanish guttural g, followed bya rough double x7; when utter- 
