The VULTURE BUZZARD (_Milvago Australis_) is also a well-known inhabitant
of South America, and is particularly numerous in the Falkland Islands.
In size this species resembles the Spotted Eagle (_Aquila nævia_). The
plumage of the adult birds is deep black, the feathers upon the back,
neck, and breast being streaked with white; the hose are bright reddish
brown; the origin of the quills and tips of the tail feathers white. The
beak is grey, the cere and feet of a yellow shade. The young are without
the light streaks upon the neck and breast, the feathers on these parts
being speckled with red or reddish white. The quills are rust red at the
base, the tail blackish brown, the beak deep brown, and the feet brownish
yellow. Abbott tells us that these birds will fall upon and devour such
of their own species as have been wounded; and that they are so covetous
and inquisitive that he has known them drag a large hat and two balls to
the distance of a mile from the spot on which they were first discovered.
According to another authority, they are so violent in their disposition
that it is not uncommon for them to root up the grass when they are in a
particularly troublesome humour. Upon the ground they run with all the
agility of a pheasant, and are then very elegant in their appearance;
when perched we cannot pay them the same compliment, as their crop is
often so enormously distended as to excite strong feelings of disgust.
The Vulture Buzzard spends but little of its time in the air, through
which it may be said to walk rather than fly, so peculiar and heavy
are its movements when upon the wing. It is noisy in its habits, and
possesses a loud harsh voice, much resembling that of the Crow; whilst
uttering its very disagreeable but varied notes, the head is repeatedly
thrown backwards and forwards, after the manner of its congeners. The
eyrie is built upon the precipitous rocks that abound upon the coast,
and is usually formed of dry blades of tussock grass, lined with wool.
The two or three eggs of which a brood consists are round, brown, and
variegated with dark spots and streaks. The female lays about November,
and Abbott tells us that the young do not attain their full beauty until
they are two years old.