185 



usually four, and are white spotted with yellow. The 

 Abbé Feuillé praises the flesh of this bird, but I ne- 

 ver could learn that it was eaten by the inhabitants. 



The tharu (falco tharus) is a species of eagle very 

 common in Chili, of the size of a capon. The niale is 

 whitish, marked with black spots, and has upon its 

 head a kind of crown formed of black feathers, longer 

 at the sides than the middle. Its back is whitish like 

 that of the common eagle ; the feet are yellow, and 

 covered with scales, and the toes armed with crooked 

 talons ; the great feathers of the wings and the tail 

 are black. The female is less than the male, is of a 

 grey colour, and has a black comb upon her head. 

 This bird builds its nest upon the loftiest trees, with 

 sticks placed in the manner of a square grate, upon 

 which it heaps a considerable quantity of wool, tow 

 and feathers. It lays five white eggs, speckled with 

 brown, and feeds upon several kinds of animals, 

 and even upon carcasses, but is never seen openly tq 

 pursue its prey like others of its species, but seizes 

 it by stratagem. The male walks erect with an air 

 of gravity ; his cry is harsh and disagreeable, and 

 whenever he utters it he throws his head back upon 

 his rump. 



The jota (vulturjota) resembles much the aura, - 



a species of vulture, of which there is perhaps but 



one variety. It is distinguished, however, by the 



beak, which is grey with a black point. All the 



plumage is black, except the quills of the wings, ' 



which are brown ; its head is destitute of feathers, * 



and covered with a wrinkled skin of a reddish colour ; 



the legs are brown. It acquires its colour with age ; 

 Vol. Í. C c 



