

POLYBORIM. 



in the centre. Wings lengthened, pointed, with the third and fourth quills the longest. Tail lengthened, 

 broad, and rounded at its end. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, feathered slightly below the knee, 

 and covered with irregular scales, those of the front the largest. Toes moderate, strongly scaled above, 

 with the lateral ones nearly equal, and the claws strong and curved, especially those of the inner and 

 hind toes. The lores slightly covered with hairs. 



These birds are peculiar to South America and the adjacent islands, and those of the Antarctic Seas. Some of the 

 species seek the mountains, and others are found on the plains. They are generally seen on the ground or perched on laro-e 

 stones or walls, being rarely observed on the trees. Their flight is heavy and indolent, and they do not soar, but only 

 fly from place to place. On the ground they are very active, running with great quickness, in the manner of a gal- 

 linaceous bird. Their food consists of carrion, worms, larvae of insects, and even the roots of plants. Some frequent 

 the sea-shore and the borders of lakes and swamps, seeking for small fish. They are sometimes seen in small parties 

 attacking other birds or animals, especially those that are in a sickly state. After they have taken their food, their 

 naked craws are largely protruded, in the manner of those of the vultures. 



1. M. chimachima (Vieill.) N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. v. 259. — Mil- 

 vago ochrocephalus Spix, A v. Bras. t. 5., Jard. & Selby's 111. Orn. 

 t. 2. ; Palco degener III. ; Falco crotophagus Pr. Max. 



2. M. chimango (Vieill.) N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. v. 260. — Aquila 

 pezoporos Meyen, Nov. Act. &c. 1834. 82. t. 6. 



3. M. leucurus (Forst.) Forst. Icon. ined. t. 34. — Falco Novae 

 Zealandiae Gmel. PI. col. \QZ. 224.; Falco australis Lath. Jard. & 



Selby's 111. Orn. n. s. t. 5. ; Circaetus antarcticus Less. ; Type of 

 Senex Gray (1839). 



4. M. aVbogularis (Gould), Proc. Z. S. 1837. 9., Voy. of Beagle, 

 Zool. pi. 1. 



5. M. monlanus (D'Orb.) Voy. de l'Ame'r MeV. t. 2. — Aquila 

 megaloptera Meyen, Nov. Act. &c. 1834. 64. t. 7. ; Type of Phal- 

 cobsmus Lafr.Sf D'Orb. (1837). 



Polyborus Vieill.* 



Bill short, the cuhnen much elevated at the base, and much arched to the tip, which is slightly hooked, 

 the sides much compressed, and the lateral margins slightly sinuated near the tip ; the nostrils oblong, 

 oval, oblique, and placed in the upper anterior angle of the cere. Wings lengthened, pointed, with the 

 third quill the longest. Tail moderate, broad, and slightly rounded at the end. Tarsi lengthened, 

 longer than the middle toe, covered in front and behind with large irregular scales, which are divided in 

 their middle, and on the sides with small ones. Toes moderate, the outer rather shorter than the inner, 

 and all covered with strong transverse scales ; the claws strong and slightly curved, those of the inner 

 and hind toes the largest. The lores and cere slightly covered with a few scattered hairs. 



The type is common throughout South America, being found from Florida to the southern extremity as far as Cape 

 Horn. Its flight is slow and heavy, and it seldom soars in the air. It runs, however, rather quickly along the 

 ground. They are generally seen seated in parties quietly on the ground waiting their share of the carcass, on which 

 the Turkey Buzzards have commenced their feast. It is in the neighbourhood of the slaughtering-houses on the River 

 Plata that they are most common, where they feed on the offals of the animals killed. Worms and insects also form a 

 portion of their food ; and, further, they are stated to attack young lambs and birds in small parties. After they have 

 taken their food, the craw protrudes and is naked. They build, either in a low cliff, in a bush, or on the tops of lofty 

 trees, a large coarse nest, formed of sticks, almost flat, and lined with hairs ; and lay two eggs. 



P. brasiliensis (Gmel.) Swains. Zool. 111. n. s. pi. — Polyborus vulgaris Vieill. Gal. des Ois. t 7., Spix, Av. Bras. t. 3. ; Falco cheriway 

 Jacq. ; Vultur plancus Lath. ; Falco tharus Mol. 



* Established by Vieillot (Analyse, p. 22.) in 1816. Cuvier's Caracara (1817) is coequal. 



August, 1844. 



