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Show 1832-3. MALDONADO. 64 . Pol horus Braziliensis: th~s ~s America. T o begin With the ·d:eY geograph 'I Ca1 ran ao e ·' 1t IS common bird, and has a Wl ahs of La Plata (where a h grassy savann f ost numerous on t e h ) and is far from un re-m of Carrano a ' . I th it aoes by the name 'l lains of Patagoma. n e ~@o t throughout the sten e p d Colorado numbers . N~rom ' desert between the nver~ f d to devour the carcasses d d th hne o roa f . constantly atten e . e hich chanced to perish from atlgue f the exhausted ammals w . these dry and open o h thus common m . . and thirst. Althoug , h 'd shores of the Pacific, It l'k . on t e an f t countries, and 1 eWI~e b'tin the damp impervious ores s is nevertheless found mba. 1 gd l Fuego The Carranchas, of West Patagom· a an d T1errCa h.e ango c· onstantly attend m· · h p b'bo1·us zm ' · 1 together with t e .o;; d slauahtering-houses. If an amma numbers the estanCias an n· tl ommences the feast, and l . th Ga mazo c b' d dies on the p am e . k the bones clean. These lr. s, then the two Caracaras plfC d' together are far from bemg although thus comm only ee m. g . tly se' ated on the branch th Carrancha IS qme . friends. When et h round t h e Ch'l iD ango often contmues of a tree, o. r onfl · e gb ack wa' r d s an d forwards, up and down, for a long time ymg . t the bottom of the curve, in a semi.c l. !cl e, t ry ing each. time,T ah Carrancha takes little to strike its larger rel~tlve.' h ed Although the Carb bobbmg Its ea . notice, except y bl . numbers they are not gre-ranchas f requent l y asseml e mt h may b' e seen sol·i tary' or g . f . desert p aces ey . f 1 anous ; or m1 b pa.n s B esl. d es the earno n o arge more common y y . h b d s of streams and sea b' d f quent t e or er animals, these rr s re th ters may cast on shore. 'k ~~~& e~ , A beaches, to pic up d th west coast of Patagoma, In Tierra del Fuego, an on e l' . 1 l' on such supp leS. they must exclusive y IVe. ve crafty, and to steal The Carranchas are said to be tryl together with the f They attemp a so, great numbers o eggs. b f the sore backs of the Chimango, to pick off the sea s. rolm the one hand, with d u1 The poor an1ma , on h horses an m es. h d d on the other, t e its ears down an d 1· t s back ar.c e ·' anf ' d the disgust- . . d · a t the d1stance o a yar ' hovenng bu ' eyemo,. a h' h has been described by ing morsel, form a picture, w lC 1832-3. CA ll.ItiO~ HAWK S. 65 Captain Head with his own peculiar spirit and accuracy. The Carranchas kill wounded animals; but Mr. Bynoe saw one seize in the air a live partridge, which escaped, and was for some time chased on the ground. I believe this circumstance is very unusual : at all events there is no doubt that the chief part of their sustenance is derived from carrion. A person will discover the Nec1'0plwgous habits of the Carrancha, by walking out on one of the desolate plains, and there lying down to sleep. When he awakes, he will see, on each surrounding hillock, one of these birds patiently watching him with an evil eye. It is a feature in the landscape of these countries, which will be recognised by every one who has wandered over them. If a party goes out hunting with dogs and horses, it will be accompanied, during the day, by several of these attendants. After feeding, the uncovered craw protrudes; at such times, and indeed generally, the ?arrancha is an inactive, tame, and cowardly bird. Its flight IS heavy and slow, like that of an English rook. It seldom soars ; but I have twice seen one at a great height gliding through the air with much ease. It runs (in contradistinction to hopping), but not quite so quickly as some of its congeners. At times the Carrancha is noisy, but is not generally s.o : its cry is loud, very harsh and peculiar, and may be hkened to the sound of the Spanish guttural g, followed by a rough double 1' r. Perhaps the Gauchos, from this cause, have called it Carrancha. Molina, who says it is called Tharu in Chile, states, that when uttering this cry, it elevates its head higher and higher, till at last, with its beak wide open, the crown almost touches the lower part of the back. This fact, which has been doubted, is quite true; I have seen them several times with their heads backwards in a completely inverted position. The Carrancha builds a large coarse nest, either in a low cliff, or in a bush or lofty' tree. To these observations I may add, on the high authority of Azara, that the Carrancha feeds on worms, shells, slugs, grasshoppers, and frogs; that it destroys young lamhs by tearing the umbilical cord; and that it pursues the Gnllinazo, VOL, Ill. ] •' |