The URUTAURANA (_Pternura tyrannus_), the most stately member of this
group, is twenty-six inches in length and fifty in breadth; the wing
measures sixteen and the tail fourteen inches; the female is two
inches longer and three or four inches broader than her mate. In this
species, the head, throat, nape, and upper part of the breast are
black; the plumage of the back is an uniform blackish brown, that of
the lower portions of the body of the same hue, marked with white;
the wing-feathers are ornamented with five or six white lines; the
tail-feathers have similar markings, and are bordered with white, so that
when seen from above they appear of a greyish brown, and on the under
side whitish grey; the plumage upon the legs and feet is also mottled
with white. The young birds are brown or greyish brown, the feathers upon
the back being edged with a lighter shade; the throat is whitish, the
breast yellowish brown, marked with dark spots; the eye orange colour,
the beak greyish black; the cere greyish yellow, and the feet pale yellow.
[Illustration: THE TUFTED EAGLE (_Lophoaëtos occipitalis_).]
The Urutaurana inhabits the forests in the interior of Brazil, but is
never met with in large numbers; indeed, the Prince von Wied, who first
discovered this species, only captured one specimen, and Burmeister
saw but two during his travels. The bird shot by the first-mentioned
naturalist was killed whilst in the act of seizing an opossum. Monkeys
and small quadrupeds of all kinds constitute its usual food. The nest,
which was built upon the branch of a tree, contained but two eggs. These
scanty particulars include all the information that has as yet been
obtained respecting its habits.
Brehm mentions having seen a still rarer species, the _Pternura Isidori_,
in confinement, and tells us that when first caged it proved extremely
fierce and shy, becoming, however, much tamer after a few months. It
would eat every kind of animal food, even fish; but always carefully
examined any new viand before proceeding to devour it. This bird
exhibited perfect indifference to change of climate, frequently remaining
voluntarily exposed to a pelting rain or fall of snow when it could have
readily found shelter beneath the roof of its cage.
* * * * *
The BRAZILIAN EAGLES (_Morphnus_), also inhabitants of the woods of
Brazil, form a race of remarkable birds, concerning whose proper position
there has been great variety of opinion, seeing that they combine the
size, strength, and noble appearance of an Eagle with the shape of the
Sparrow Hawk. All the members of this group possess stout bodies and
large heads; their wings are short, their tails broad and long; the
tarsus is at least twice as long as the middle toe, and but slightly
covered with feathers below the heel, the other parts being protected
with horny plates; the toes are powerful, though short, and armed with
strong, sharp talons; the beak is long, shallow, and comparatively weak;
the upper mandible terminates in an abrupt hook, and its edges bulge
slightly outwards.