100 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



" We obtained," says Mr. Peale, " this species on the Kio Negro, 

 Patagonia, and in Chili. In the hitter country they were very tame, 

 and were seen in considerable numbers along the public roads, feeding 

 on the carcasses of horses and cattle left by travellers. Family parties 

 of six or seven were frequently noticed, but we were not so fortunate 

 as to find its nest." 



Numerous specimens are in the collection of the Expedition. 



10. Genus POLYBORUS, Vielll. Analyse, p. 22 (1816). 

 1. PoLYBORUS THARUS {Molina). — The Caracara Eagle. 



Faico tharus, MoL. Sagg. Stor. Nat. del Chili (1782). 

 Fako cheriway, Jacquin, Gesch. der Vogel, p. 17 (1784). 

 Falco hrasiliensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 262 (1788). 

 Folijhorus vidijaris, ViEiLL. Nouv. Diet. V, p. 257 (1816). 



Jacq. Vog. Plate IV; Vieill. Gal. I, Plate VII; Aud. B. of Am. I, 

 Plate CLXI ; oct. ed. I, Plate IV ; Gay's Chili, Orn. Plate I. 



The caracara eagle was observed, and specimens obtained at various 

 localities. The first notice of it occurring in Dr. Pickering's Journal, is 

 dated at Rio Negro, Patagonia, February, 1839. " Birds of prey were 

 very numerous and far from shy. It was novel to me to see the cara- 

 cara perching sometimes on the bushes, but more usually on the sand, 

 and even in the mud on the margin of the river. But in an un wooded 

 country like this, birds may occasionally be under the necessity of 

 abandoning their usual habits, and of resting on the ground. 



" This was the largest rapacious bird met with here, and seemed to 

 me to be larger than specimens from Florida, which I had seen, 

 though not differing in general characters, if my memory serves me. 

 The skin about the bill has not the bright red color as given in Mr. 

 Audubon's figure from a Florida specimen. Its talons are quite power- 

 ful, as I have witnessed." 



Under date also of February, 1839, at Tierra del Fuego, he observes : 

 " One specimen of the common caracara obtained here, had the breast, 

 neck, and back, marked with very fine transverse lines. It appears 

 to be abundant throughout Patagonia." 



At Valparaiso, April, 1839, he observes : " The caracara was occa- 



