_Adult._ Whole body, with middle wing-coverts, variegated with transverse bars of black and white; tail-coverts barred. Terminal zone of the tail about 2.00 wide. _Young._ Longitudinal stripes over the whole head and body, except throat, cheeks, and tail-coverts; tail-coverts transversely barred. _Hab._ South America … var. _tharus_.[67] _Adult._ Transverse bars confined to the breast and interscapulars; rest of body continuous black; tail-coverts without bars; wing-coverts unvariegated. Terminal zone of tail about 2.50 wide. _Young._ Longitudinal stripes confined to the breast and interscapulars; rest of the body continuous brown. Tail-coverts without bars. _Hab._ Middle America, and southern border of United States, from Florida to Cape St. Lucas … var. _auduboni_. Polyborus tharus, var. auduboni, CASSIN. CARACARA EAGLE; “KING BUZZARD” OF FLORIDA. _Polyborus auduboni_, CASSIN, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1865, p. 2. _Polyborus vulgaris_ (“VIEILL.”), AUD. Orn. Biog. II, 350, 1834 (not of VIEILLOT!). _Polyborus brasiliensis_ (“GMEL.”), AUD. Birds Am. Oct. ed. I, 21, 1840 (not of GMELIN!). _Polyborus tharus_ (“MOL.”) CASSIN, Birds of Cal. & Tex. I, 113; 1854 (not of MOLINA!); BREWER, Oölogy, 1857, p. 58, pl. xi, figs. 18 & 19; BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, p. 45.—HEERM. P. R. R. Rept. VII, 31, 1857.—COUES, Prod. Orn. Ariz. p. 13, 1866.—OWEN, Ibis, III, 67.—GURNEY, Cat. Rapt. B. 1864, 17.—DRESSER, Ibis, 1865, 329 (Texas). SP. CHAR. _Adult male_ (12,016, Texas; Capt. McCall). Forehead, crown, occiput, and nape, wings, scapulars, rump, belly, thighs, and anal region continuous deep dull black; chin, neck, jugulum, breast, and tail-coverts (upper and lower), soiled white. Breast with numerous cordate spots of black, these growing larger posteriorly, and running in transverse series; back with transverse bars of white, which become narrower and less distinct posteriorly. Basal two-thirds of tail white, crossed by thirteen or fourteen narrow transverse bands of black, which become narrower and more faint basally; outer web of lateral feather almost entirely black; broad terminal band of the tail uniform black (2.40 inches in width); third, fourth, fifth, and sixth primaries grayish just beyond the coverts, this portion with three or four transverse bars of white. Middle portion of primaries beneath, faintly barred with white and ashy; the barred portion extending obliquely across. Third quill longest, fourth a little shorter, second shorter than fifth; first 3.60 inches shorter than longest. Wing, 16.70; tail, 9.60; tarsus, 3.40; middle toe, 2.10. _Adult female._ Plumage similar; white more brownish; abdomen with indication of bars. Wing, 15.50; tail, 8.70; tarsus, 3.30; middle toe, 2.20.