CAE ACAR A EAGLE. 
327 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of female specimens from Eastern North America. Length, 24 - 50; stretch, 48'00; wing, 16-50 
tail, 950; bill, 112; tarsus, 3’25. Longest specimen, 25-00; greatest extent of wing, 4900; longest wing, I7‘00; tail, 10 00 
bill, 1 25; tarsus, 3 50. Shortest specimen, 21'00; smallest extent of wing, 47'25; shortest wing, 16'00; tail,9 00; bill, 100 
tarsus, 300. 
Average measurements of male specimens from Eastern North America. Length, 23 - 50; stretch, 47 - 25; wing, 15-50 
tail, 850; bill, -98; tarsus, 2'95. Longest specimen, 24 - 00; greatest extent of wing, 48'00; longest wing, 16 00; tail, 9 00 
bill, 100; tarsus, 3'00. Shortest specimen, 23 - 00; smallest extent of wing, 46 - 50; shortest wing, 15 00; tail, 8'00; bill, - 95 
tarsus, 2 90. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed in trees or bushes; they are bulky structures, composed of sticks, lined with roots, grass, etc., arranged 
in a compact manner. 
Eggs, two to four in number, varying from spherical to oval in form, yellowish-white or creamy in color, blotched, spot¬ 
ted, and sprinkled with reddish-brown of varying shades, frequently so thickly as to nearly, or quite, obscure the ground 
color. Dimensions from l-80x2-25 to 1-88x2 50. 
HABITS. 
Although the Caracara Eagles cannot be called rare in Florida, yet they are restricted 
to a comparatively limited area, being quite common on the prairies near the extreme head¬ 
waters of the St. John’s, and on the broad Savannas which lie about Lake Okeechobee and 
northward along the Kissimee River. They are quite rare in other sections, being only 
stragglers, for I do not think that they breed elsewhere than in the sections named. They 
deposit their eggs in early spring, often placing their nests in the tops of palmetto trees 
or occasionally on pines. 
Not only in form and odor are the Caracaras intermediate between the Eagles and 
Vultures but they also resemble both in habits. They catch some of their booty living but 
will feed readily upon dead animals. They are sluggish at times but fly well; when on 
the wing, moving in a direct line, they resemble the Black Vulture somewhat, flapping 
and sailing alternately, but when high in air, circle like a Hawk or Eagle. 
There can be but little doubt that this species is the Sacred Vulture of Bartram who 
says that the feathers were greatly esteemed by the Indians as ornaments; a fact which 
might have been true enough in his time, 1791, but at the present day, the favorite decora¬ 
tions of the Seminoles, are the plumes of the Ostrich. Were it not for the high reputation 
for veracity, which one cannot avoid according to Mr. Bartram after reading his writings, 
I should say that he had been trying to palm off a purely mythical species upon the public, 
for much of his description does not correspond with the plumage of any known bird; but 
it is highly probable that the description of the bird which he terms the Sacred Vulture, 
was made from memory, some time after seeing the Caracaras, and thus the King Vult¬ 
ure of South America and the true Caracara Eagle which is also known in Florida as the 
King Buzzard, became somewhat confounded in his mind. This theory has, for its sup¬ 
port, the fact that Bartram does not mention the true Caracara as an inhabitant of Florida. 
FAMILY IX. CATIIARTIDH3. THE AMERICAN VULTURES. 
Feet, small and weak; claws , not very stout. Sternum, wide; keel, not high. Marginal 
indentations, four. 
