194 
Four youn^ birds taken from tlie same nest diifer remarkably in size 
and general development, the smallest being apparently just hatched, 
while the largest is nearly one-third grown, with well-developed feathers 
in the wings and tail. The other si)ecimens were intermediate. The 
collector, remarking upon this disparity, believes that they were hatched 
successively^ the female having commenced incubation as soon as the 
first egg was laid. This is after the manner of the American Cuckoos 
{Coccifzus ) ; but a similar case among the raptorial birds is so exceptional 
that the present instance is very remarkable. 
The local name of this bird is given by the collector as “ Calalie”, by 
which is probably meant Qiieleli, a name by which sev^eral vultures, 
besides hawks of the group to which the present species belongs, are 
kirown in portions of Mexico and California. It is stated to be the most 
conspicuous, and in one sense most notable, bird of the island, from its 
abundance, its size, and the damage it does to the flocks of goats. A 
good idea of its daring and its ferocity may be gathered from the col¬ 
lectors memoranda :— 
Collector'’s notes. 
* 
“ The ‘ Calalie’ is abundant on every part of the island; and no bird 
could be a more persistent or more cruel enemy of the poultry and domes¬ 
tic animals. It is continually on the watch, and in spite of evmry precau¬ 
tion often snatches its prey from the very doors of the houses. The de¬ 
struction of the wild goats is not so great, as these animals are better 
able to protect themselves than the tame ones. No sooner is one kid 
born—while the mother is in labor with the second—than the birds 
pounce upon it; and should the old one be able to interfere, she is also 
assaulted. No kid is safe from their attacks. Should a number be to¬ 
gether, the birds unite their forces, and, with great noise and flapping 
of their wings, generally manage to separate the weakest one and dis¬ 
patch it. They sometimes fasten upon the tongue when the poor crea¬ 
ture opens its mouth to bleat, and have been known to tear it out, leav¬ 
ing the animal to perish, if not otherwise destroyed. Sometimes the 
anus is the point of first attack. The birds are cruel in the extreme, 
and the torture sometimes inflicted upon the defenseless animals is pain¬ 
ful to witness. They occasionally, when pressed by hunger, attack full- 
grown goats; numbers harass it together from all sides at once, and 
soon put it to death. A ‘ burro *( jackass) which had accidentally be¬ 
come wedged among some rocks, was once furiously attacked and lost 
its eyes before assistance reached it. Even when food is plenty, they 
often attack living animals instead of contenting themselves with the 
carcasses of those already dead, seeming to delight in killing. Should 
one of their own number be disabled or wounded, it is instantly dis¬ 
patched by the rest. Hundreds of the birds have been destroyed by the 
inhabitants, both with poison and fire arms, without noticeable dinnnu- 
tion of their numbers. They are said to lay three eggs, sj^eckled like a 
gull's. When surprised or wounded, they emit a loud, harsh scream, 
something like that of the Bald Eagle. In fighting among themselves, 
they make a curious gabbling noise ; and under any special excitement 
the same sounds are given forth, with an odd motion of the head, the 
neck being first stretched out to its full length and then bent backward 
till the head almost rests upon the back. The same odd motions are 
made and similar noises emitted when the birds are about to make an 
attack upon a kid. 
“ Besides the principal sources of food-supply already indicated, the 
birds have other means of subsistence. They" eat sinall birds, mice. 
