244 Falconid^. BIRDS. The Cahacaua. 
finil when strongly pressed by hunger. There are, 
however, some exceptions to this general rule ; a few 
of the species being almost as inveterate carrion-eaters 
as the vultures, with which they often share their 
dainty meals. The Falconidm are distinguished from 
the vultures — with which they agree .in their diurnal 
habits and in having the eyes placed upon the sides of 
the head — by the much shorter and more powerful bill, 
which is always much hooked, the ridge of the upper 
mandible being generally curved from the base to the 
apex, and its margins are in most cases armed with a 
tooth on each side. The base of the bill is enveloped 
in a cere, in which the nostrils are pierced (fig. 94, 
p. 236) ; their eyes are overshadowed by projecting 
brows ; the head and neck are clothed with feathers ; 
the toes are armed with long and powerful claws; 
and the hinder toe, which in the vultures is compara- 
tively short and weak, acquires a considerable develop- 
ment, and renders the foot a most efficient grasping 
organ. It is in fact with the feet that these birds seize 
and carry oft' their prey, and the bill appears in most 
cases to be employed only in tearmg it to pieces. In 
the habits and mode of life of the Falconidse, there is a 
much greater variety than is observable in the vultures. 
Some ot them feed almost exclusively upon birds and 
mammals ; others upon snakes, frogs, and other rep- 
tiles. Others, again, are fishers by profession ; whilst 
a considerable number, especially of the smaller species, 
derive a great portion of their nourishment from 
insects. Their modes of catching prey are also greatly 
diversified. Some hover in the air, or sail slowly along 
until their victim appears in sight, when they dart 
down upon it with the rapidity of lightning; some 
pursue their prey with the greatest pertinacity, imtil 
they get an opportunity of seizing it with their murder- 
ous talons; whilst others haunt woods and thickets, 
and appear to lie in waiting for their food. They 
usually ludificate amongst rocks or in tall trees, build- 
ing a nest of sticks on which they lay from two to 
five eggs, which arc almost always of a white colour, 
spotted with reddish-brown. The females are gener- 
ally larger than the males, but inferior to them in 
intensity of colour ; and the young birds pass through 
several changes of plumage before attaining their adult 
di’ess. The differences presented by the numerous 
species of birds forming this family in their minor 
characters, together with corresponding differences in 
their habits, have led to their division into numerous 
minor groups, which we may adopt here as sections, 
commencing with the Caracaras, which from their 
carrion-eating habits, must be regarded as most nearly 
approaching the preceding family. 
CAEACARAS. 
THE CAKACARA {Polyhorus braziliensis), one of the 
best-known species of this group, is an inhabitant of 
South America, where, according to M. D’Orbigny, it 
replaces the serpent-eater ot the Cape of Good Hope, 
from the number of snakes which it destroys. It does 
not, however, confine itself to this diet, but feeds in- 
differently upon carrion, insects, and mollusca, and 
also, like many vultures, attacks new-born lambs. 
D’Orbigny states that it is never seen to give chase to 
birds, but, on the other hand, in some districts it can 
scarcely fly without being pursued by some species of 
small birds, against which it makes no effort to defend 
itself. Chickens, however, are not safe from its depre- 
dations, and it not unfrequently accompanies the sports- 
man in his excursions, and seizes upon the birds shot 
by him. Mr. Darwin informs us that the Caracara, 
together with a smaller but nearly allied species, the 
chimango, frequents the neighbourhood of the slaughter- 
houses, to feed on the offals thrown out ; and these two 
birds also follow the vultures in devouring tlie carcass 
of any animal that dies in the open country, and never 
leave it until the bones are quite clean. According to 
some writers, the Caracaras are not above taking their 
carrion at second-hand ; they are said to watch for 
one of the vultures returning from his repast, when 
they fly out upon him and pursue him until he finds 
it necessary to disgorge his food, upon which the con- 
spirators immediately descend. D’Azara states that 
these birds also combine to pm'sue some of the larger 
birds, such as the heron. M. D’Orbigny describes the 
Caracaras as accompanying the traveller throughout 
the vast solitudes of the South American forests, but 
never making their appearance until he comes to a 
halt; then suddenly he will see them perching upon 
the trees in his vicinity, and apparently waiting for tire 
remains of his dinner. Mr. Darwin, however, attributes 
a far less amiable object to these intruders, and regards 
this conduct on their part as an evidence of their desire 
to indulge their cariion-eating propensities at the per- 
sonal expense of the traveller. Of this, he says, any one 
may convince himself, “ by walking out on one of the 
desolate plains, and then lymg down to sleep : when he 
awakes, he will see, on each surrounding hillock, one 
of these birds patiently watching him with an evil eye.” 
The Caracara, which is also called the Carrancha 
in South America, is said to derive its name from its 
peculiar guttural cry, which is compared by Mr. Dar- 
win “ to the sound of the Spanish guttural, g, followed 
by a rough double ?•, r." When uttering this cry it 
throws the head back, until at last the crown almost 
touches the lower part of the back, the beak being all 
the while kept wide open. It is about the size of our 
common kite, and has a tail nine inches in length. Tlie 
general colour of the jdumage is a blackish-brown, with 
the neck and breast brownish-grej', barred with brown ; 
the top of the head is black, and the feathers of tliis 
part are elongated, so as to form a sort of crest, which 
the bird can elevate at pleasure ; the feathers of tlie tail 
are of a dirty-white colour, with numerous transverse 
dusky bands, and the tips black. The feet are yellow 
with black claws, and the cere and cheeks are naked 
and dull red. It is rather an indolent bhd, especially 
when gorged with food, and never flies to any great 
height ; on the ground it runs with facility. Its nest 
