6 
BIRDS OF PREY. 
seea jealously contending with each other, both in and out of 
the carcase, defiled with blood and filth, holding on with their 
feet, hissing and clawing each other, or tearing off morsels so 
as to fill their throats nearly to choking, and occasionally 
joined by growling dogs, — the whole presenting one of the 
most savage and disgusting scenes in nature, and truly worthy 
the infernal bird of Prometheus. 
This species is very rarely seen north of the Carolinas, though 
a few examples have been taken in New England and at Grand 
Menan. 
AUDUBON’S CARACARA. 
CARACARA EAGLE. KING BUZZARD. 
POLYBORUS CHERIWAV. 
Cn.\R. General color brownish black ; fore part of back and breast 
barred with white ; tail white, with bars of black. Length aoj to 25 inches. 
Nsst. On a low tree or bush ; made of sticks and leaves. 
Eggs. 2-4 (usually 2) ; brownish white or pale brown, blotched with 
deeper brown ; 2.30 X i. 7 S' 
This very remarkable and fine bird was first met with by Mr. 
Audubon near St. Augustine, in East Florida. He afterwards 
also found it on Galveston Island, in Texas. From its general 
habits and graceful, sweeping flight, it was for some time mis- 
taken for a Hawk. Though common in many parts of South 
America, it is within the limits of the United States merely an 
accidental visitor. It is said, however, to breed in Florida, in 
the highest branches of tall trees in the pine-barrens, making 
a rough nest of sticks like a Hawk. In Texas it breeds, accord- 
ing to Audubon, in the tops of bushes. 
Since Niittall wrote, the Caracara has been found in numbers 
in parts of Florida, and it is not uncommon in Texas, southern 
Arizona, and Lower California. 
