596 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



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

 tude 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 is met with everywhere, from the. coldest 

 districts to the hottest countries, but only at a slight altitude, and in 



Fig. 280. —The Black Caracara. 



company with the Chimango Caracara (Milvago chimango), whilst the 

 summits of the Andes are inhabited by the Long-winged Caracara 

 (M. megalopterus) ; and the Chimachima 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- 



