CARACARA POLYBORUS. 731 



•and down, in a semicircle, trying each time at the bottom of 

 the curve to strike its larger relative. The caracara takes little 

 notice, except by bobbing its head. The caracaras are crafty, 

 and steal numbers of eggs ; they also attempt, together with 

 the chimango, to pick off the scabs from the sore backs of 

 horses and mules. These false eagles rarely kill any living 

 bird or animal ; and their vulture-like, necrophagous habits 

 are very evident to any one who has fallen asleep on the 

 desolate plains ; for, when he awakes, he will see on each 

 suiTounding hillock one of these birds patiently watching him 

 with an evil eye. If a party of men go out hunting with 

 dogs and horses, they will be accompanied during the day by 

 several of these attendants. 



The flight of the caracara is heavy and slow, and it is gene- 

 rally an inactive, tame, and cowardly bird. It destroys young 

 lambs, by tearing the umbilical cord ; and it pursues the gal- 

 linaso till that bird is compelled to vomit up the carrion it 

 may have recently gorged. It is said, also, that several cara- 

 caras will unite in chase of large birds, even such as herons. 



The chimango is tame and fearless ; and when an animal 

 is killed a number soon collect, and patiently wait, standing 

 on the ground on all sides. Darwin describes seeing one 

 pounce on a dog which was lying asleep close to one of a 

 party of sportsmen. They had difficulty in preventing their 

 canine companion from being seized before their eyes. 



It will frequently wait, as does the caracara, at the mouth 

 of a rabbit-hole, and seize on the animal when it comes out. 

 It is also very mischievous and inquisitive. It will pick up 

 almost anything from the ground : a large black glazed hat 

 was carried nearly a mile, as were a pair of heavy bolas. On 

 another occasion a small Kater's compass in a red morocco 



