The CARANCHO or TRARO (_Polyborus vulgaris_ or _Polyborus Brasiliensis_)
is found extensively throughout South America. The group of which this
bird may be regarded as the type, is characterised by a slender body and
powerful wings (in which the third quill is the longest) that extend
almost to the end of the tail; the feathers of the latter are ragged at
the tips, as in the tail of the Vulture. The legs are long, the toes
short, and the talons strong, sharp, and but slightly curved. The beak is
large, high, straight at its base, and only slightly bent. The plumage is
heavy and lustreless. The feathers upon the head, neck, and breast, are
narrow; those on the back large and rounded. The cheek-stripes, as well
as the region of the chin and crop, are so sparsely covered with short
bristles that they appear to be bare. The length of the Carancho is about
one foot two inches; its breadth more than four feet; the wing measures
above fourteen, and the tail above seven inches; the feathers upon the
top and back of the head can be raised so as to form a crest. The back
is dark brown striped with white; the wings are of the same deep shade,
streaked with a paler tint upon the posterior quills and wing-covers; the
cheeks, chin, throat, and upper part of the breast are white or yellowish
white; the sides of the throat and breast streaked like the back. The
belly, legs, and rump are of an uniform blackish brown; the tail feathers
are white, tipped broadly with blackish brown and thickly covered with
extremely fine brown lines; the eye is grey or reddish brown; the cere,
cheek-stripes, and the bare space around the eyes brownish yellow; the
beak is light blue, and the foot orange colour. The female is larger
than her mate, the only other difference in appearance consisting in the
comparative paleness of her coloration. The feathers upon the bodies of
the young birds are pointed and have light borders, those upon the top of
the head being of a deep brown, but with this exception their plumage is
very dull and faded in its appearance.
These remarkable birds are frequently met with in pairs, wandering over
the plains of South America; but they are most numerous in the extensive
regions known as the Steppes or Pampas, or near morasses. When seen upon
the ground their appearance is striking and even beautiful; the crest is
borne aloft, and each bird moves with an ease and bold bearing that might
almost be termed majestic. Animal food of all kinds is greedily devoured
by the Caranchos, and they capture mice, small birds, reptiles, snails,
and insects, after the manner of Buzzards. Azara tells us that flocks of
sheep if not protected by the presence of a good dog, are constantly in
danger of falling victims to the attacks of these voracious marauders,
who come down in parties of four or five upon the defenceless lambs, and
tear out their entrails even while still alive.
The Caranchos, says Mr. Darwin, together with the voracious Chimangos,
constantly attend in numbers the _estancias_ and slaughter-houses. If
an animal dies on the plain, the Milvago begins the feast, and then the
Caranchos pick the bones quite clean. Besides devouring the carrion
of large animals, these birds frequent the borders of streams and
sea-beaches to pick up whatever the waters cast ashore. In Terra del
Fuego and on the west coast of Patagonia they must live exclusively on
such supplies. The Caranchos are said to be crafty and to steal great
numbers of eggs. They attempt also, together with the Chimango, to pick
the scabs from the sore backs of horses and mules; the poor animals
on the one hand with ears down and back arched, and on the other the
hovering bird of prey eyeing at a distance the disgusting morsel, form a
picture that has been described by Captain Head with peculiar spirit and
accuracy. A person will discover the necrophagous habits of the Carancho
by walking out upon one of the desolate plains and there lying down to
go to sleep; for when he awakes he will see on each surrounding hillock
one of these birds patiently watching him with an evil eye. If a party
goes out hunting with dogs and horses, it will be accompanied during the
day by several of these attendants, and in the desert between the rivers
Negro and Colorado, numbers constantly attend on the line of road to
devour the carcases of the exhausted animals which chance to perish from
fatigue and thirst.
These birds are much detested by the inhabitants of the districts where
they abound, on account of their raids upon the meat laid out to dry
in the fields. They will also steal fowls from under the very eye of
the farmer, and destroy eggs in great numbers; we are told that they
even pursue Cranes until the unfortunates are compelled to disgorge
the meat they have been seen to swallow. These various attacks upon
the outer world are generally returned with interest upon the head of
the rapacious offender, for not only other birds, but even its own
species, allow no opportunity for annoying or harassing it to escape
their notice; while another troublesome class of enemies contributes to
render the life of these disgusting birds far from enviable; we allude
to the vermin with which their plumage is so infested as to render it
unadvisable to touch even their dead carcases. The voice of the Carancho
is harsh, and has given rise to its name of "Traro," as it consists of
two notes--"tr-a-a-a" and "r-o-o-o," uttered in such a manner as to
sound like the noise made by striking two pieces of wood together, and
the attitudes into which this bird throws itself, whilst vociferating in
this strange manner, are most laughable and eccentric. From early morning
till sunset, the Carancho is actively employed in the pursuit of prey; at
night it perches itself upon the lower branches of some ancient tree, in
company with is almost inseparable companion, the Carrion Vulture; it
often flies to a distance of some five or six miles in search of one of
its favourite resting-places, and should an old tree not be discovered,
takes possession of a piece of rock, or of one of the hills raised by the
termites. Throughout the entire year the female is never deserted by her
mate, and even when these birds are seen in large parties, it is easy to
distinguish the respective pairs by their mutual attentions. In Paraguay
the breeding season commences in the autumn; in the more central parts
of the continent it takes place in the spring. The nest, which is large
and flat, is placed on a tree, and formed of branches lined with roots,
grass, and moss. The two eggs which form a brood are yellow, spotted
with brown or crimson. The young are covered with white down when they
first leave the shell, and are for a time tended with great care by
their parents; this attention is, however, of short duration, the little
family being sent forth early to shift for themselves. These birds are
but rarely caged. Audubon informs us that all the brilliant colours that
adorn the bare patches upon the body of the Carancho have completely
faded within an hour after the death of the bird.
[Illustration: THE CARANCHO OR TRARO (_Polyborus vulgaris_ or
_Brasiliensis_).]