The Brazilian Kite or Car- 
ranch a lives in Southern America, 
where it is found to be a very useful, 
though not a very pleasant bird. It 
is a carrion eater, following the 
line of road in order to feed on the 
poor worn-out animals that sink 
tired out on the journey, and are 
left to perish by their hard-hearted 
drivers. It will watch the course 
pursued by hunters, and in hopes 
of obtaining the rejected portions 
of the slain animals, will follow 
them- in their expeditions with as 
much perseverance and confidence 
as is exhibited by the American 
wolf. It also frequents the slaugh- 
ter-houses, and is of great service 
in devouring the offal, which would 
otherwise be left to taint the air 
with its deadly odour. The name 
of Carrancha has been given to the 
bird on account of its rough cry, 
which is thought to resemble the 
word “ carrancha.” While uttering 
this cry, it bends its head very 
far back so that the top of the 
head almost touches the shoulders. 
It also eats little birds and quad- 
rupeds. 
The Brazilian Kite is blackish- 
brown, deepening to dull black 
from the top of the head, and 
varied across the neck and shoul- 
ders with wavy bands of dark brown on a greyish white, traversed by many narrow 
wavy bands of dusky brown. The bill is tinged with blue at the base, the claws 
are black, and the legs yellow. The keen sense of the bird will enable it to dis- 
tinguish a feeble animal, or a dead carcass, at a wonderful distance, and its 
insatiable appetite is never appeased as long as there is a particle of flesh remain - 
ng on the bones. 
BRAZILIAN KITE. 
Polyborus Brazitiensis . 
