i i
MALDONADO. 1 8 3 2 - 3 .
America. To begin with the Polyborus Braziliensis : tliis is
il common bird, and has a wide geographical range; it is
most numerous on the grassy savannahs of La Plata (where
it goes by the name of Carrancha), and is far from unfre-
quent throughout the sterile plains of Patagonia. In the
desert betw’een the rivers Negro and Colorado, numbers
constantly attended the line of road to devour the carcasses
of the exhausted animals which chanced to perish from fatigue
and thirst. Although thus common in these dry and open
countries, and likewise on the arid shores of the Pacific, it
is nevertheless found inhabiting the damp impervious forests
of West Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. The Carranchas,.
together with the Polyborus Chimaiigo, constantly attend in
numbers the estancias and slaughtering-houses. If an animal
dies on the plain the Gallinazo commences the feast, and
then the two Caracaras pick the hones clean. These birds,
although thus commonly feeding together, are far from being
friends. When the Carrancha is quietly seated on the branch
of a tree, or on the ground, the Chimango often continues
for a long time flying backwards and forwards, up and dowm,
in a semicircle, trying each time, at the bottom of the curve,
to strike its larger relative. The Carrancha takes little
notice, except by bobbing its head. Although the Carranchas
frequently assemble in numbers, they are not gregarious
; for in desert iflaces they may be seen solitary, or
more commonly by pairs. Besides the carrion of large
animals, these birds frequent the borders of streams and sea
beaches, to pick up whatever the waters may cast on shore.
In Tierra del Fuego, and on the west coast of Patagonia,
they must exclusively live on such supplies.
The Carranchas are said to he very crafty, and to steal
great numbers of eggs. They attempt also, together with the
Chimango, to pick off the scabs from the sore backs of the
horses and mules. The poor animal, on the one hand, with
its ears dowm and its back arched; and, on the other, the
hovering bird, eyeing, at the distance of a yard, the disgusting
morsel, form a picture, w’hich has been described by
1 8 3 2 - 3 . CAJ IR IOX I IAW'KS
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 Necrophagous habits of the Carrancha,
by walking out on one of the desolate plains, and there lying
down to sleep. When he aw'akes, he will see, on each surrounding
hillock, one of these birds patiently w'atching 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, Ijy
several of these attendants. After feeding, the uncovered
craw protrudes; at such times, and indeed generally, the
Carrancha is an inactive, tame, and cowardly bird. Its flio-ht
IS heavy and slow, like that of an English rook. It seldom
soars; but I have twice seen one at a great height glidino-
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
so: its cry IS loud, very harsh and peculiar, and may be
hkened to the sound of the Spanish guttural g, followed )w
a rough double r r. Perhaps the Gauchos, from this cause,
have called It Carrancha. Molina, who says it is called
Tharu m Chile, states, that when uttering this cry, it elevates
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 tunes with their heads backwards in a completely
inverted position. The Carrancha builds a lar^e
coai.e 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 ^he Carrancha feeds on worms, shells slugs
g.-asshoppers,»and frogs; that it destroys y4 mg Z Z t
v o !! ! ,n Gallinazo!
‘il