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As Maureen O'Connor stood in court Thursday somberly admitting over the course of years that she had bet a total of more than $1 billion in casinos due to her compulsive gambling, it was the sad culmination of an addiction that dismantled a vast fortune and left her broke and in failing health.
The former mayor of San Diego — and widow of millionaire Jack-in-the-Box restaurant chain founder Robert Peterson, who died in 1994 — lost a total of $13 million to casinos, and confessed to taking $2.1 million from her husband's charitable foundation only to blow it on video poker. But it didn't end there. Court records show O'Connor liquidated her savings, sold a number of properties, auctioned her valuables and took out second and third mortgages on her home in La Jolla, Calif. — all of it to only rack up extensive gambling debts.
(MORE: Why the New Definition of Addiction, as 'Brain Disease,' Falls Short)
O'Connor, who served as mayor of California's second-largest city in the 1980s and '90s, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to a charge of money laundering, striking a deal that allows her to try to pay the money back to the foundation and get treatment for gambling addiction. "I always intended to pay it back," she said of the money at a news conference following her hearing. "And I still intend to pay it back. In that period of time I lost my husband, three siblings, best friends."
O'Connor, 66, suffered a stroke and had a brain tumor removed in 2011; she now lives with her twin sister, Mavourneen, and says she suffers memory loss and sometimes has trouble reading. She blames her gambling compulsion on the tumor. "There are two Maureens — Maureen No. 1 and Maureen No. 2," O'Connor said at her press conference. "Maureen No. 2 is the Maureen who did not know she had a tumor growing in her brain."
A wunderkind who was elected to San Diego's city council just three years after graduating college, O'Connor was once one of California's most popular politicians. One of 13 children and the daughter of a bookie, she grew up in poverty, worked as a Catholic school teacher and won a seat on the city council in 1971, where she served until 1979.
With the support of political friends like one-time mayor and future governor Pete Wilson, O'Connor rode into the mayor's office and stayed in that seat from 1986 to 1992. Among her greatest accomplishments was overseeing the construction of the city's downtown convention center. After leaving office she kept a relatively low profile, penning a few op-eds for the San Diego Union-Tribune. After her husband's death from leukemia, in 1994, O'Connor remained a trustee of his charity, the R.P. Foundation. Her personal fortune at the time was estimated to be between $40 and $50 million, her attorney said.
(PHOTOS: Hard Times Hit Las Vegas)
But records show that beginning around 2000, she began to splurge in casinos in San Diego, Las Vegas and Atlantic City; before long she was in over her head. According to IRS files, O'Connor had more than $1 billion in winnings from the casinos between 2000 and 2009 — but she also reported losses that were greater than her wins.
In order to keep herself afloat — and continue gambling — O'Connor began to liquidate her assets; when that dried up, leaving her with no money to pay her debts, she dipped into the charitable fund's finances. Starting in 2008, she arranged a series of transfers from the foundation to her personal account totaling $2,088,000.
The transfers left the charity bankrupt and its accounts were closed that same month. O'Connor listed the transactions as "loans" to hide her theft and avoid paying taxes. While O'Connor did attempt to pay the casinos what she owed them, prosecutors say she also knew that draining her husband's charity was a misappropriation of funds, as they ran against the foundation's stipulations that money taken from it be used for charitable purposes.
She was caught and charged with wire fraud for trying to transfer $449,000 from the foundation's account, then using that money to write a check for $100,000 to the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas.
The deal O'Connor cut with U.S. District Judge David Bartick defers prosecution as long as she agrees to pay restitution to the foundation; if she fails to do so she faces jail time and fines. Although O'Connor doesn't currently have the ability to pay the debt back on her own, she is currently seeking damages over a $7.5 million real estate transaction that went south in 2005. Her attorney says she plans to use any money won in that suit repay the foundation.

subset: commoncrawl


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14 Nights | 13-DAY GRAND MED FROM VCE BUNDLE (AIR, HOTEL, TRANSFERS, CRUISE)
About Civitavecchia, Italy
You will visit the following 9 places:
Dubrovnik is a gorgeous Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist resorts of the Mediterranean and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The city is nicknamed "Pearl of the Adriatic". The success of Dubrovnik's tourist industry has brought a certain degree of complacency and self-satisfaction. Certain aspects of the city's appeal remain immune to tourist numbers, however, most notably the uniquely stunning setting and the unjaded straightforwardness of the Dubrovčani themselves.
Venice is a city in northeastern Italy sited on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges. The city is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture, and its artwork. The city in its entirety is listed as a World Heritage Site, along with its lagoon. Venice has been known as the La Dominante, Serenissima, Queen of the Adriatic, City of Water, City of Masks, City of Bridges, The Floating City, and City of Canals. It has also been described as being one of Europe's most romantic cities. It is truly an amazing, stunning and interesting city for the adventurous to explore!
Naples is a city in Italy; it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples. Known for its rich history, art, culture, architecture, music, and gastronomy, Naples has played an important role in the Italian peninsula and beyond for much of its existence, which began more than 2,800 years ago. Situated on the west coast of Italy by the Gulf of Naples, the city is located halfway between two volcanic areas, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields. Naples has the fourth-largest urban economy in Italy, after Milan, Rome and Turin. It is the world's 103rd-richest city by purchasing power, with an estimated 2011 GDP of US$83.6 billion. The port of Naples is one of the most important in Europe, and has the world's second-highest level of passenger flow, after the port of Hong Kong. The city has long been a major cultural centre with a global sphere of influence, particularly during the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras. In the immediate vicinity of Naples are numerous culturally and historically significant sites, including the Palace of Caserta and the Roman ruins ofPompeii and Herculaneum. Culinarily, it is synonymous with pizza, which originated in the city.
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbour on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence. Toulon is an important centre for naval construction, fishing, wine making, and the manufacture of aeronautical equipment, armaments, maps, paper, tobacco, printing, shoes, and electronic equipment. $$https://vimeo.com/5280139$$
Barcelona – Spain's enchanting capital, second largest and most populous city. It is a huge city that vibrates with life, and there's certainly not another city in the country to touch it for its sheer style, looks or energy. It is one of the world's leading tourist, economic, trade fair and cultural centers, and its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities. Barcelona is home to masterpieces of many great architects – the most famous of which is Antoni Gaudí.
Livorno is an Italian port city on the Ligurian Sea, on the western coast of Tuscany, Italy. Traditionally been known in English as Leghorn, it's known for its seafood, Renaissance-era fortifications and modern harbor with a cruise ship port.
Piraeus is a city in the periphery of Attica, Greece and within the Athens urban area, located 12 km southwest of its center and upon the Saronic Gulf. According to the 2001 census, Piraeus has a population of 175,697 people within its administrative limits, making it the third largest municipality in Greece and the second within the Greek capital following the municipality of Athens. The Piraeus urban area extends beyond the administrative city limits to the suburban municipalities, with a total population of 466,065.
Kotor is a coastal town in Montenegro with a population of about 13,500. It is well-known for its World heritage medieval structures (including churches and fortifications) and its stunning natural setting at the very edge of the mountain-rimmed Kotor Bay. It is situated in a most secluded tip of Boka Kotorska bay, in the northern part of the Montenegro coast on the Adriatic Sea. Kotor has developed around Stari Grad (local language for "old town"), the city's old town and best known landmark, which is listed with UNESCO World heritage sites. Kotor Bay is the deepest natural fjord-like bay in the Mediterranean Sea, and the scenery around it (including the steep mountains which come almost straight down to the waters edge) is spectacular.
Civitavecchia is a town and comune of the Metropolitan City of Rome in the central Italian region of Lazio. A sea port on the Tyrrhenian Sea, the name ''Civitavecchia'' means "ancient town". The modern city was built over a pre-existing Etruscan settlement. The massive Forte Michelangelo was first commissioned from Donato Bramante by Pope Julius II, to defend the port of Rome. The upper part of the "maschio" tower, however, was designed by Michelangelo, whose name is generally applied to the fortress. North of the city at Ficoncella are the Terme Taurine baths frequented by Romans and still popular with the Civitavecchiesi. The modern name stems from the common fig plants among the various pools. And also next to the town is the location of the cruise ship docks. All major cruise lines start and end their cruises at this location, and others stop for shore excursion days that allow guests to see Rome and Vatican sights, which are ninety minutes away.


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Rule #1 - Be Patient - Rule #2 - Don't ask when, if you don't contribute - Rule #3 - You have coding skills - LinuxMCE's small brother is available: http://www.agocontrol.com
This looks interesting. Has anyone been following this one. I suspect it is similar to the Zotac 330's that we have been working with. Any ideas?Randy
The Zotac ZBOX HD-ID11-U is working great !!!
depmod -amodprobe r8168
ok, I got it.. I had to run Code: [Select]depmod -amodprobe r8168before running Diskless_BuildDefaultImage.shIts now booting


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4 Elements of an Estate Strategy
Learn about the importance of having an estate strategy in this helpful and informative video.
Have A Question About This Topic?
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Understanding the Alternate Valuation Date
Executors can value the estate on the date of death, or on its six-month anniversary —the "Alternate Valuation Date."


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Friday, 25 July 2014 09:30 AM EDT
Pot may be legal in some states, but the neighbors don't have to like it.
Marijuana and hemp have joined wacky paint colors and unsightly fences as common neighborhood disputes facing homeowners' associations. Though a few HOAs have willingly changed their rules to accommodate for legal marijuana use or home-growing, many more are banning home pot smoking.
Homeowners' associations can't ban members from using marijuana in their homes when it's legal. But if neighbors can see or smell weed, the law is clear. HOAs have every right to regulate the drug as a nuisance, or a threat to children along the lines of a swimming pool with no fence.
"The fact that people may be legally entitled to smoke doesn't mean they can do it wherever they want, any more than they could walk into a restaurant and light up a cigarette," said Richard Thompson, who owns a management consulting company that specializes in condominium and homeowner associations.
Thompson said his home condo development in Portland, Oregon, is a prime example of how marijuana's growing acceptance has sparked neighbor conflicts.
"As soon as spring and summer come around, we hear complaints about marijuana smoke because people are out on their patios and they have the windows down," he said.
It's not clear how many homeowners' associations have confronted marijuana conflicts in the 23 states with some form of legal marijuana. But lawyers who specialize in HOA disputes, as well as a Colorado regulatory agency that advises HOAs, say there are growing conflicts among neighbors who want to smoke pot and others who don't want to see it or smell it.
"What we're really seeing more now is regulating the associations' common areas," such as smoke wafting onto playgrounds or others' porches, said Erin McManis, an attorney in Phoenix whose firm represents hundreds of Arizona HOAs.
The Carrillo Ranch homeowners association in Chandler, Arizona, earlier this year took the rare step of withdrawing a proposed ban on residents smoking medical marijuana in their front and backyards and on their patios.
The HOA planned a meeting on the topic in March, but withdrew the proposal after many residents opposed the ban as too harsh.
"This is a personal-freedom issue where people were going to dictate how other people should live," Carrillo Ranch resident Tom LaBonte told The Arizona Republic in February, when the HOA dropped its proposal.
HOA lawyers say the Carrillo Ranch case illustrates the value of HOAs when the law changes, as with marijuana.
"Coming together and working on issues is something associations have been doing for a long time," McManis said. "We're hopeful that's how it's going to go forward now with medical marijuana."
Smoke isn't the only neighbor complaint posed by loosening marijuana laws. Growing pot and hemp is prompting neighbor disputes, too.
A suburban Denver retiree learned the hard way this spring that he needed neighbors' permission before growing hemp. Jim Denny, of Brighton, Colorado, learned about marijuana's non-intoxicating cousin and decided to try the crop on a 75-by-100-foot plot in his yard.
But Denny's hemp plot ran afoul of his homeowners' association, which ruled the hemp experiment unacceptable.
"As soon as they heard about it, they said, 'We're not going to let anyone grow marijuana here,' " Denny said. "I explained to them that hemp is not marijuana, but they were dead-set against it."
So with his hemp plants about 2 feet tall, Denny invited hemp activists to come transplant them to somewhere without opposition from a homeowner association. Denny sold the plants for about $3 each, a good price for a plant whose seeds can cost up to $10 each because it can't be imported.
Hemp activists volunteered to pay Denny's fines for flouting the HOA, which could have run to $600 a day. But Denny decided that living peacefully with his neighbors trumped making a political point.
"I had people calling up and saying, 'It's just a shame; we'll pay your fines all the way through to the end.' But I decided in the end not to fight it," said Denny, a technical writer and former software engineer. "At the end of the day, I live here."
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Stainless Steel Utility Sinks
A clean, organized commercial kitchen begins with having an adequate stainless steel utility sink for your cleaning crew. Whether you operate a large hospital kitchen or a small cafe, the need for utility sinks is undeniable throughout the foodservice industry. Though three-compartment sinks are almost always required in commercial kitchens for health code purposes, at Mission Restaurant Supply, there is a versatile selection ranging from simple, one-compartment models all the way to large, four-compartment sinks with optional drain boards. Find the right size for your specific utility sink needs. Browse through hundreds of quality-made utility sinks by trusted manufacturers, and set up the ultimate cleaning station for your soiled dishes.


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CURATED DESIGNER JEWELRY 2B | Live and Online Auctions on HiBid.com
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No, not "You've taken up 90's Fruit Roll-Up Advertisment Photography?" (This photo was supposed to be...not lame.)
The news is that that top is just sort of kind of TOTALLY one of my favorite things I own, ever?
Lovely lovely Jack and Lazaro of Proenza Schouler sent it over from their Spring collection and I was so happy when I got it and really sad I was all gross and gym-class-y when it came because I wanted to try it on so bad. But now here we are.
I am obSESSED with this collection (it is partially responsible for my serious consideration of dying my hair blue) and had been figuring out how I could wait until it's all on sale on Yoox in a couple years to find anything from it but sometimes nice people do really nice things and I don't end up acting like Daria on a Monday!
I have to be honest, wearing this really does make you feel super cool and like a totally other person. I don't mean "You'll be a new woman! It'll transform your life! You'll be confident in your weight, and start dating again!" I mean I totally felt like I lived in Santa Cruz a couple decades ago and knew how to surf or skateboard or something. Good thing I didn't try because that would result in massive injuries and, more importantly, shirt stains!
Pretty rad. So in love.
Obligatory artsy fartsy shot is obligatory.
But freals, this does NO justice to the vibrance of this print. When I was bored in school I would roll my sleeves up and then unroll them and it was like WHOA.


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RECORD: Darwin, C. R. ed. 1838. Birds Part 3 No. 1 of The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle. by John Gould. Edited and superintended by Charles Darwin. London: Smith Elder and Co.
REVISION HISTORY: Scanned and text prepared by John van Wyhe; proofread and corrected by Sue Asscher 9.2006. RN2
NOTE: See record in the Freeman Bibliographical Database, enter its Identifier here. See bibliographical introduction by R. B. Freeman. See the overview of illustrations in this work here.
The bound copy scanned was kindly provided by The Balfour and Newton Libraries, Cambridge, which had been rebound and lacked the original wrappers. The scan of the front wrapper is from an online auction listing (2022).
[PRICE 10s.
Edited and Superintended by
CHARLES DARWIN, ESQ. M.A., F.R.S., Sec. G.S.
Described by
Described by
Plate I. | Milvago albogularis. | |
II. | Craxirex Galapagoensis. | |
III. | Otus Galapagoensis. | |
IV. | Strix punctatissima. | |
V. | Progne modestus. | |
VI. | Pyrocephalus parvirostris. | |
nanus. |
VIII. | Tyrannula magnirostris. | |
IX. | Lichenops erythropterus. | |
X. | Fluvicola Azaræ. | |
XI. | { | Xolmis variegata, in place
of Tænioptera variegata. |
XII. | Agriornis micropterus. | |
XIII. | ——— leucurus. | |
XIV. | Pachyramphus albescens. | |
XV. | —————— minimus. | |
XVI. | Mimus trifasciatus. | |
XVII. | ——— melanotis. | |
XVIII. | ——— parvulus. | |
XIX. | { | Uppucerthia dumetoria, in
place of Upercerthia dumetaria. |
XX. | { | Opetiorhynchus nigrofumosus, in
place of Opetiorhynchus lanceolatus. |
XXI. | Eremobius phœnicurus. | |
XXII. | { | Anumbius acuticaudatus, in
of Synallaxis major. |
XXIII. | Synallaxis rufogularis. | |
XXIV. | ———— flavogularis. | |
Plate XXV. | Limnornis curvirostris. | |
XXVI. | ———— rectirostris. | |
XXVII. | Dendrodamus leucosternus. | |
XXVIII. | Sylvicola aureola. | |
XXIX. | Ammodramus longicaudatus. | |
XXX. | { | Ammodramus Manimbè, in
place of Ammodramus xanthornus. |
XXXI. | Passer Jagoensis. | |
XXXII. | Chlorospiza melanodera. | |
XXXIII. | ————— xanthogramma. | |
XXXIV. | { | Aglaia striata, in place of
Tanagra Darwinii. |
XXXV. | Pipilo personata. | |
XXXVI. | Geospiza magnirostris. | |
XXXVII. | ———— strenua. | |
XXXVIII. | ———— fortis. | |
XXXIX. | ———— parvula. | |
XL. | Camarhynchus psittaculus. | |
XLI. | ————— crassirostris. | |
XLII. | Cactornis scandens. | |
XLIII. | ———— assimilis. | |
XLIV. | Certhidea olivacea. | |
XLV. | Xanthornus flaviceps. | |
XLVI. | Zenaida Galapagoensis. | |
Rhea Darwinii. |
XLVIII. | Zapornia notata. | |
XLIX. | ——— spilonota. | |
L. | Anser melanopterus. |
WHEN I presented my collection of Birds to the Zoological Society, Mr. Gould kindly undertook to furnish me with descriptions of the new species and names of those already known. This he has performed, but owing to the hurry, consequent on his departure for Australia,—an expedition from which the science of Ornithology will derive such great advantages,— he was compelled to leave some part of his manuscript so far incomplete, that without the possibility of personal communication with him, I was left in doubt on some essential points. Mr. George Robert Gray, the ornithological assistant in the Zoological department of the British Museum, has in the most obliging manner undertaken to obviate this difficulty, by furnishing me with information with respect to some parts of the general arrangement, and likewise on that most intricate subject,—the knowledge of what species have already been described, and the use of proper generic terms. I shall endeavour in every part of the text to refer to Mr. G. R. Gray's assistance, where I have used it. As some of Mr. Gould's descriptions appeared to me brief, I have enlarged them, but have always endeavoured to retain his specific character; so that, by this means, I trust I shall not throw any obscurity on what he considers the essential character in each case; but at the same time, I hope, that these additional remarks may render the work more complete.
The accompanying illustrations, which are fifty in number, were taken from sketches made by Mr. Gould himself, and executed on stone by Mrs. Gould, with
that admirable success, which has attended all her works. They are all of the natural size with the exception of four raptorial birds, a goose and a species of Rhea. As the dimensions of these latter birds are given, their proportional reduction will readily be seen. I had originally intended to have added the initial letter of my name to the account of the habits and ranges, and that of Mr. Gould's to the description of the genera and species; but as it may be known that he is responsible for the latter, and myself for the former, this appeared to me useless; and I have, therefore, thought it better to incorporate all general remarks in my own name, stating on every occasion my authority, so that wherever the personal pronoun is used it refers to myself. Finally, I must remark, that after the excellent dissertation, now in the course of publication, on the habits and distribution of the birds of South America by M. Alcide D'Orbigny, in which he has combined his own extended observations with those of Azara, my endeavour to add anything to our information on this subject, may at first be thought superfluous. But as during the Beagle's voyage, I visited some portions of America south of the range of M. D'Orbigny's travels, I shall relate in order the few facts, which I have been enabled to collect together; and these, if not new, may at least tend to confirm former accounts. I have, however, thought myself obliged to omit some parts, which otherwise I should have given; and, after having read the published portion of M. D'Orbigny's great work, I have corrected some errors, into which I had fallen. I have not, however, altered any thing simply because it differs from what that gentleman may have written; but only where I have been convinced that my means of observation were inferior to his.
SARCORAMPHUS GRYPHUS. Bonap.
Vultur gryphus, Linn.
—— ———, Humb. Zoolog, p.
Sarcoramphus Condor, D'Orbigny. Voy. Ois.
Condor of the inhabitants of South
THE Condor is known to have a wide range, being found on the west coast of South America, from the Strait of Magellan, throughout the range of the Cordillera, as far, according to M. D'Orbigny, as 8° north latitude. On the Patagonian shore, the steep cliff near the mouth of the Rio Negro, in latitude 41°, was the most northern point where I ever saw these birds, or heard of their existence; and they have there wandered about four hundred miles from the great central line of their habitation in the Andes. Further south, among the bold precipices which form the head of Port Desire, they are not uncommon; yet only a few stragglers occasionally visit the sea-coast. A line of cliff near the mouth of the Santa Cruz is frequented by these birds, and about eighty miles up the river, where the sides of the valley were formed by steep basaltic precipices, the Condor again appeared, although in the intermediate space not one had been seen. From these and similar facts, I believe that the presence of this bird is chiefly determined by the occurrence of perpendicular cliffs. In Patagonia the Condors, either by pairs or many together, both sleep and breed on the same overhanging ledges. In Chile, however, during the greater part of the year, they haunt the lower country, near the shores of the Pacific, and at night several roost in one tree; but in the early part of summer they retire to the most inaccessible parts of the inner Cordillera, there to breed in peace.
[page] 4 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
With respect to their propagation, I was told by the country people in Chile, that the Condor makes no sort of nest, but in the months of November and December, lays two large white eggs on a shelf of bare rock. Certainly, on the Patagonian coast, I could not see any sort of nest among the cliffs, where the young ones were standing. I was told that the young Condors could not fly for a whole year, but this probably was a mistake, since M. D'Orbigny says they take to the wing in about a month and a half after being hatched. On the fifth of March (corresponding to our September), I saw a young bird at Concepcion, which, though in size only little inferior to a full-grown one, was completely covered by down, like that of a gosling, but of a blackish colour. I can, however, scarcely believe that this bird could have used, for some months subsequently, its wings for flight. After the period when the young Condor can fly, apparently as well as the old birds, they yet remain (as I observed in Patagonia) both roosting at night on the same ledge, and hunting by day with their parents: but before the young bird has the ruff round its neck white, it may often be seen hunting by itself. At the mouth of the Santa Cruz, during part of April and May, a pair of old birds might be seen every day, either perched on a certain ledge, or sailing about in company with a single young one, which latter, though full fledged, had not its ruff white.
The Condors generally live by pairs; but among the basaltic cliffs of the plains, high up the river Santa Cruz, I found a spot where scores must usually haunt. They were not shy; and on coming suddenly to the brow of the precipice, it was a fine sight to see between twenty and thirty of these great* birds start heavily from their resting place, and wheel away in majestic circles. From the large quantity of dung on the rocks, they must have long frequented this cliff; and probably they both roost and breed there. Having gorged themselves with carrion on the plains below, they retire to these favourite ledges to digest their food in quietness. From these facts, the Condor must, to a certain degree be considered, like the Gallinazo (Cathartes atratus), a gregarious bird. In this part of the country they live almost entirely on the guanacoes, which either have died a natural death, or, as more commonly happens, have been killed by the pumas. I believe, from what I saw in Patagonia, that they do not, on ordinary occasions, extend their daily excursions to any great distance from their regular sleeping places.
The condors may oftentimes be seen at a great height, soaring over a certain spot in the most graceful spires and circles. On some occasions I am sure that they do this for their sport; but on others, the Chileno countryman tells you, that they are watching a dying animal, or the puma devouring its prey. If the condors
* I measured a specimen, which I killed there: it was from tip to tip of wing, eight and a half feet; and from end of beak to end of tail four feet.
glide down, and then suddenly all rise together, the Chileno knows that it is the puma, which, watching the carcass, has sprung out to drive away the robbers. Besides feeding on carrion, the condors frequently attack young goats and lambs. Hence the shepherds train their dogs, the moment the enemy passes over, to run out, and looking upwards, to bark violently. The Chilenos destroy and catch numbers; two methods are used: one is to place a carcass within an enclosure of sticks on a level piece of ground, and when the condors have gorged themselves to gallop up on horseback to the entrance, and thus enclose them: for when this bird has not space to run, it cannot give its body sufficient momentum to rise from the ground. The second method is to mark the trees in which, frequently to the number of five or six, they roost together, and then at night to climb up and noose them; they are such heavy sleepers, as I have myself witnessed, that this is not a difficult task. At Valparaiso I have seen a living condor sold for sixpence, but the common price is eight or ten shillings. One which I saw brought in for sale, had been lashed with a rope, and was much injured; but the moment the line was cut by which its bill was secured, it began, although surrounded by people, ravenously to tear a piece of carrion. In a garden at the same place, between twenty and thirty of these birds were kept alive; they were fed only once a week, yet they appeared to be in pretty good health.* The Chileno countrymen assert, that the condor will live and retain its powers between five and six weeks without eating: I cannot answer for the truth of this fact, but it is a cruel experiment, which very likely has been tried.
When an animal is killed in this country, it is well known that the condors, like other carrion vultures, gain the intelligence and congregate in a manner which often appears inexplicable. In most cases, it must not be overlooked, that the birds have discovered their prey, and have picked the skeleton clean, before the flesh is in the least degree tainted. Remembering the opinion of M. Audubon on the deficient smelling powers of such birds,† I tried in the above mentioned garden, the following experiment. The condors were tied, each by a rope, in a long row at the bottom of a wall. Having folded a piece of meat in white paper, I walked backwards and forwards, carrying it in my hand at the
* I noticed that several hours before any of the Condors died, all the lice with which they are infested, crawled to the outside feathers. I was told, that this always happened.
† In the case of the Cathartes Aura, Mr. Owen, in some notes read before the Zoological Society, (See Magazine of Nat. Hist. New Ser. vol. i. p. 638.) has demonstrated from the developed form of the olfactory nerves, that this bird must possess an acute sense of smell. It was mentioned on the same evening, in a communication from Mr. Sells, that on two occasions, persons in the West Indies having died, and their bodies not being buried till they smelt offensively, these birds congregated in numbers on the roof of the house. This instance appears quite conclusive, as it was certain, from the construction of the buildings, that they must have gained the intelligence by the sense of smell alone, and not by that of sight. It would appear from the various facts recorded, that carrion-feeding hawks possess both senses, in a very high degree.
[page] 6 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
distance of about three yards from them; but no notice whatever was taken of it. I then threw it on the ground within one yard of an old cock bird; he looked at it for a moment with attention, but then regarded it no more. With a stick I pushed it closer and closer, until at last he touched it with his beak: the paper was then instantly torn off with fury, and at the same moment every bird in the long row began struggling and flapping its wings. Under the same circumstances, it would have been quite impossible to have deceived a dog.
When the condors in a flock are wheeling round and round any spot, their flight is beautiful. Except when they rise from the ground, I do not recollect ever to have seen one flap its wings. Near Lima, I watched several of these birds for a quarter and half-an-hour, without once taking off my eyes. They moved in large curves, sweeping in circles, descending and ascending without once flapping. As several glided close over my head, I intently watched, from an oblique position, the separate and terminal feathers of the wing; if there had been the least vibratory movement, their outlines would have been blended together, but they were seen distinct against the blue sky. The head and neck were moved frequently, and apparently with force. If the bird wished to descend, the wings were for a moment collapsed; and then, when again expanded with an altered inclination, the momentum gained by the rapid descent, seemed to urge the bird upwards, with the even and steady movement of a paper kite. It was a beautiful spectacle thus to behold these great vultures hour after hour, without any apparent exertion, wheeling and gliding over mountain and river.
In the garden at Valparaiso, where so many condors were kept alive, I observed that all the hens had the iris of their eyes bright red, but the cocks yellowish-brown. In a young bird, whose back was brown, and ruff not white, (but which must have been at least nearly a year old, as it was then the spring) I observed that the eye was dark brown: upon examination after death, this proved to be a female, and therefore I suppose the colour of the iris changes at the same time with the plumage.
1. CATHARTES ATRATUS. Rich. and Swain.
Cathartes urubu, D'Orbigny. Voy. Ois.
Vultur atratus, Bartram, p. 287.
—— jota, Jardine's Wilson, vol. iii. p. 236.
————, Bonaparte's List, p. 1.
Gallinazo or Cuervo of the Spanish inhabitants of America; and Black Vulture or Carrion Crow of the English of that continent.
THESE birds, I believe, are never found further south, than the neighbourhood of the Rio Negro, in latitude 41°: I never saw one in southern Patagonia, or in Tierra del Fuego. They appear to prefer damp places, especially the vicinity of rivers; and thus, although abundant both at the Rio Negro and Colorado, they are not found on the intermediate plains. Azara* states, that there existed a tradition in his time, that on the first arrival of the Spaniards in the Plata, these birds were not found in the neighbourhood of Monte Video, but that they subsequently followed the inhabitants from more northern districts. M. Al. D'Orbigny, in reference to this statement, observes that these vultures, although common on the northern bank of the Plata, and likewise on the rivers south of it, are not found in the neighbourhood of Buenos Ayres, where the immense slaughtering establishments are attended by infinite numbers of Polybori and gulls. M. D'Orbigny supposes that their absence is owing to the scarcity of trees and bushes in the Pampas; but this view, I think, will hardly hold good, inasmuch as the country near Bahia Blanca, where the Gallinazo (together with the carrion-feeding gull) is common, is as bare, if not more so, than the plains near Buenos Ayres. I have never seen the Gallinazo in Chile; and Molina, who was aware of the difference between the C. atratus and C. aura, has not noticed it; yet, on the opposite side of the Cordillera, near Mendoza, it is common. They do not occur in Chiloe, or on the west coast of the continent south of that island. In Wilson's Ornithology it is said that "the carrion crow (as this bird is called in the United States) is seldom found on the Atlantic to the northward of Newbern, lat. 35° North Carolina." But in Richardson's "Fauna Boreali-Americana," it is mentioned, on the authority of Mr. David Douglas, that on the Pacific side of the continent, it is common on the marshy islands of the Columbia, and in the neighbourhood of Lewis's and Clark's rivers (45°-47° N.) It has, therefore, a wider range in the northern
* Voyage dans l'Amérique Méridionale, vol. iii. p. 24.
[page] 8 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
than in the southern half of the continent. These vultures certainly are gregarious; for they seem to have pleasure in each other's society, and are not solely brought together by the attraction of a common prey. On a fine day, a flock may often be seen at a great height; each bird wheeling round and round in the most graceful evolutions. This is evidently done for their sport; or, perhaps, is connected (for a similar habit may sometimes be observed during the breeding season amongst our common rooks) with their matrimonial alliances.
2. CATHARTES AURA. Illi.
Vultur aura, Linn.
————, Jardine's Wilson, vol. iii. p.
Vultur jota, Molina, Compendio de la Hist. del Reyno de Chile, vol i. p. 296.
Turkey-buzzard and Carrion Crow of the English in
THIS bird has a wide geographical range, being found from 55° S. to Nova Scotia (according to Wilson, in Jardine's edition, vol. iii. p. 231,) in 45° N.; or exactly one hundred degrees of latitude. Its lesser range in Northern than in Southern America is probably due to the more excessive nature of the climate in the former hemisphere. It is said to be partly migatory during winter, in the Northern and even in the Middle States, and likewise on the shores of the Pacific. The C. aura is found in the extreme parts of Tierra del Fuego, and on the indented coast, covered with thick forests, of West Patagonia, (but not on the arid plains of Eastern Patagonia,) in Chile, where it is called Jote, in Peru, in the West Indies; and, according to Wilson, it remains even during winter, in New Jersey and Delaware, latitude 40°. It and one of the family of Polyborinæ are the only two carrion-feeding hawks, which have found their way to the Falkland Islands. The Turkey buzzard, as it is generally called by the English, may be recognized at a great distance from its lofty, soaring and most graceful flight. It is generally solitary, or, at most, sweeps over the country in pairs. In Tierra del Fuego, and on the west coast of Patagonia, it must live exclusively on what the sea throws up, and on dead seals: wherever these animals in herds were sleeping on the beach, there this vulture might be seen, patiently standing on some neighbouring rock. At the Falkland Islands it was tolerably common; but sometimes there would not be a single one near the settlement for several days together, and then many would suddenly appear. They were usually shy; a disposition which is remarkable, as being different from that of almost every other bird in this Archipelago. May we infer from this that they are migratory, like those of the northern hemisphere? In a female specimen killed there, the skin of the head was intermediate in colour between
"scarlet and cochineal red,"* and the iris dark-coloured. D'Orbigny describes the iris as being bright scarlet; whilst Azara says it is "jaune léger." Is this difference owing to the sex and age, as certainly is the case with the condors? As a considerable degree of confusion has prevailed in the synonyms of this and the foregoing species, caused apparently by a doubt to which of them Molina applied the name of Jote, I would wish to call attention to the fact, that at the present time the C. aura in Chile goes by the name of Jote. Moreover, I think Molina's description by itself might have decided the question; he says, the head of the Vultur jota is naked, and covered only with a wrinkled and reddish (roxiza) skin.
SUB-FAM. POLYBORINÆ, Swains.
POLYBORUS BRASILIENSIS. Swains.
Polyborus vulgaris, Vieillot.
Falco Brasiliensis Auctorum; Caracara of Azara; Tharu of Molina; and Carrancha of the inhabitants of La Plata.
THIS is one of the commonest birds in South America, and has a wide geographical range. It is found in Mexico and in the West Indies. It is also, according to M. Audubon, an occasional visitant to the Floridas; it takes its name from Brazil, but is no where so common as on the grassy savannahs of La Plata. It generally follows man, but is sometimes found even on the most desert plains of Patagonia: in the northern part of that region, numbers constantly attended the line of road between the Rio Negro and the Colorado, to devour the carcasses of the animals which chanced to perish from fatigue. Although abundant on the open plains of this eastern portion of the continent, and likewise on the rocky and barren shores of the Pacific, nevertheless it inhabits the borders of the damp and impervious forests of Tierra del Fuego and of the broken coast of West Patagonia, even as far south as Cape Horn. The Carranchas (as the Polyborus Brasiliensis is called in La Plata) together with the P. chimango†, attend in great numbers the estancias and slaughtering houses in the neighbourhood of the Plata. If an
* In this work, whenever the particular name of any colour is given, or it is placed within commas, it implies, that it is taken from comparison with Patrick Syme's edition of Werner's Nomenclature of Colours.
† Milvago Chimango of this work.
[page] 10 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
animal dies in the plain, the Cathartes atratus or Gallinazo commences the feast, and then these two carrion-feeding hawks pick the bones clean. Although belonging to closely allied genera, and thus commonly feeding together, they 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 flying backwards and forwards for a long time, up and down 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 places they may be seen solitary, or more commonly by pairs. Besides the carrion of large animals, these birds frequent the borders of streams and the sea-beach, for the sake of picking up whatever the waters may cast on shore. In Tierra del Fuego, and on the west coast of Patagonia, they must live almost exclusively on this last means of supply.
The Carranchas are said to be very crafty, and to steal great numbers of eggs; they attempt also, together with the Chimango, to pick the scabs off the sore backs of both horses and mules. On the one hand, the poor animal, with its ears down and its back arched; and, on the other, the hovering bird, eyeing at the distance of a yard, the disgusting morsel, form a picture which has been described by Captain Head with his own peculiar spirit and accuracy. The Carranchas kill wounded animals; but Mr. Bynoe (the surgeon of the Beagle) saw one seize in the air a live partridge, which, however, 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 their necrophagous habits by walking out on one of the desolate plains, and there lying down to sleep: when he awakes, he will see on each surrounding hillock, one of these birds patiently watching 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, by several of these attendants. The uncovered craw of the Carrancha, after feeding, protrudes from its breast; at such times it is, and indeed generally, an inactive, tame, and cowardly bird. Its flight is generally heavy and slow, like that of the English carrion crow, whose place it so well supplies in America. It seldom soars; but I have twice seen one at a great height gliding 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 compared to the sound of the Spanish guttural g, followed by a rough double r r. Perhaps the Spaniards of Buenos Ayres, from this cause, have called it Carrancha. Molina, who says it is called Tharu in Chile, states, that when uttering this cry, it elevates its 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 true; for I have myself several times seen them with their heads backwards, in a completely inverted position. The Carrancha builds a large coarse 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, whose statements have lately been so fully confirmed by M. D'Orbigny, that the Carrancha feeds on worms, shells, slugs, grasshoppers, and frogs; that it destroys young lambs by tearing the umbilical cord: and that it pursues the Gallinazos and gulls which attend the slaughtering-houses, till these birds are compelled to vomit up any carrion they may have lately gorged. Lastly, Azara states that several Carranchas, five or six together, will unite in chase of large birds, even such as herons. All these facts show that it is a bird of very versatile habits and considerable ingenuity.
I am led to suppose that the young birds of this species sometimes congregate together. On the plains of Santa Cruz (lat. 50° S. in Patagonia), I saw in the month of April, or early autumn, between twenty and thirty Polybori, which I at first thought would form a species distinct from P. Brasiliensis. Amongst those I killed, there were some of both sexes; but the ovarium in the hens was only slightly granular. The plumage of the different individuals was nearly similar; and in none appeared like that of an adult bird, although certainly not of a very young one. Having mentioned these circumstances to Mr. Gould, he likewise suspected it would form a new species; but the differences appear so trifling between it and the specimens of young birds in the British Museum and in the Museum of the Zoological Society, and likewise of the figure of a young bird given by Spix, (Avium Species Novæ, vol. i. p. 3.), that I have thought it advisable merely to allude to the circumstance. In my specimen, which is a cock, the head, instead of being of a dark brown, which is the usual character of even very immature birds, is of a pale rusty brown. The bill and cere are less produced than in the adult P. Brasiliensis; and the cere is of a brighter colour, than what appears to be usual in the young of this species. In other respects there is such a perfect similarity between them, that I do not hesitate to consider my specimen as a young bird of the P. Brasiliensis in one of its states of change;—and to be subject to great variation of plumage during growth, is known to be a character common to the birds of this sub-family. It may, however, possibly be some variety of the P. Brasiliensis, for this bird seems subject to variation: Azara (Voyage dans l'Amérique Méridionale, vol. iii. p. 35.) remarks, "Il y a des individus dont les teintes sont plus faibles, ou d'un brun pâle, avec des taches sur la poitrine, et d'autres qui ont des couleurs plus foncées; j'ai décrit ceux qui tiennent le milieu entre les uns et les autres."
I have myself more than once observed a single very pale-coloured bird, in
[page] 12 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
form like the P. Brasiliensis, mingled with the other carrion-feeding hawks on the banks of the Plata; and there is now in the British Museum a specimen, which may be considered as partly an albino. Spix, on the other hand, (Avium Species Novæ, p. 3.) has described some specimens from the coast of Brazil, as being remarkable from the darkness of the plumage of their wings.
MILVAGO, Spix.
Several new genera have lately been established to receive certain species of the sub-family of Polyborinæ, and consequently great confusion exists in their arrangement. Mr. George R. Gray has been kind enough to give me the following observations, by which it appears he has clearly made out, that Spix's genus Milvago, is that which ought to be retained. M. D'Orbigny has made two sections in the genus Polyborus, according as the craw is covered with feathers, or is naked, and he states that the P. Brasiliensis is the only species which comes within the latter division; but we shall afterwards see that the Falco Novæ Zelandiæ, Auct. (the Milvago leucurus of this work) has a naked craw, which is largely protruded after the bird has eaten. M. D'Orbigny has also instituted the genus Phalcobænus, to receive a bird of this sub-family, with the following characters:
"Bec fortement comprimé, sans aucune dent ni sinus, à commissure très-arquée à son extrémité; cire alongée et droite; un large espace nu entourant la partie antérieure et inférieure de l'œil, et s'étendant sur toute la mandibule inférieure; tarses emplumés sur un tiers de leur longueur, le reste réticulé; doigts longs, semblables à ceux des gallinacés, terminés par les ongles longs, deprimés et élargis, très-peu arqués, toujours à extrémité obtuse ou fortement usée; ailes de la famille, la troisième penne plus longue que les autres."
Mr. George R. Gray, however, has pointed out to me that Spix, (in his Avium Species Novæ) ten years since, made a division in this sub-family, from the rounded form of the nostril of one of the species, namely, the M. ochrocephalus of his work, or the Chimachima of Azara. And Mr. Gray thinks, that all the species may be grouped much more nearly in relation to their affinities by this character, than by any other: he further adds;—"The only difference which I can discover between this latter genus (Milvago), and D'Orbigny's (Phalcobænus), is, that in the latter the bill is rather longer, and not quite so elevated in the culmen as in the former; and these characters must be considered too trivial for the foundation of a generic division. I, therefore, propose to retain Spix's genus, Milvago, for all those Polyborinæ which possess rounded nostrils with
an elevated bony tubercle in the centre. They were once considered to form three distinct genera, viz.—Milvago, Spix. (Polyborus, Vieill. Haliaëtus, Cuv. Aquila, Meyen.)—Senex, Gray. (Circaëtus, Less.)—Phalcobænus, D'Orb. but a careful comparison of the several species, shows a regular gradation in structure from one to the other, which induces me to consider them as only forming two sections of one genus. Those which have the bill short, with the culmen arched, and are of small size, slender form, and with the tarsi rather long and slender, are—
1. |
Milvago ochrocephalus, Spix. | |
Polyborus chimachima; Vieill. (young). | ||
Falco degener, Licht. | ||
Haliaëtus chimachima, Less. | ||
2. | Milvago pezoporos, nob. | |
Aquila pezopora, Meyen. | ||
3. | Milvago chimango, n. | |
Polyborus chimango, Vieill. | ||
Haliaëtus chimango, Less. |
Those which have a buteo-like appearance, and with rather short and stout tarsi, are,
7. | Milvago leucurus, n. | |
Falco leucurus, Forster's Drawings No. 34. | ||
Falco Novæ Zealandiæ, Gm. | ||
—— Australis, Lath. | ||
Circaëtus antarcticus, Less. | ||
8. | Milvago albogularis, n. | |
Polyborus (Phalcobænus ?) albogularis, Gould. | ||
9. | Milvago montanus, n. | |
Phalcobænus montanus, D'Orbig. | ||
10. | Milvago megalopterus, n. |
Aquila megaloptera, Meyen. |
Aquila pezopora, Meyen. Nov. Act. Phys. Med. Acad. Cæs. Leo. Car. Nat. Cur. suppl. 1834. p. 62. pl. VI.
I obtained two specimens of this bird, one from Port Desire, in Patagonia, and another at the extreme southern point of Tierra del Fuego. Meyen* describes it as common on the plains of Chile, and on the mountains to an elevation of 4000 or 5000 feet. As M. D'Orbigny does not notice this species, I presume it is not found on the Atlantic side of the continent, so far north as the Rio Negro, where he resided for some time. The habits and general appearance of M. chimango and this bird are so entirely similar, that
* Novorum Actorum Academiæ Cæsariæ, Leopol. vol. xvi. p. 62. Observationes Zoologicas, F. J. Meyenii.
[page] 14 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE,
I did not perceive that the species were different; hence I cannot speak with certainty of their range, but it would appear probable that the M. pezoporus replaces in Chile, Tierra del Fuego and Southern Patagonia the M. chimango of La Plata. In the same manner the M. chimango is replaced between the latitudes of Buenos Ayres and Corrientes by a third closely allied species, the M. ochrocephalus. D'Orbigny, (p. 614, in the Zoological part of his work) speaking of the Chimango, says, "Il n'est pas étonnant qu'on ait long-temps confondu cette espèce avec le falco degener, Illiger, (the M. ochrocephalus) et qu'on l'ait cru de sa famille. Il est impossible de présenter plus de rapports de forme et surtout de couleur. Nous les avions, nous-même confondus au premier abord; mais, en remarquant, ultérieurement, que le sujet que nous regardions comme le mâle ne se trouvait qu'à Corrientes, tandis qu'il y avait seulement des femelles sur les rives de la Plata, l'étude plus attentive des mœurs de ces oiseaux, et les localités respectives qu'habite chacun d'eux, ne tarda pas à nous y faire reconnaître, avec Azara, deux espèces vraiment très-distinctes; mais qui, depuis, ont encore été confondues, sous la même nom, par M. la Prince Maximilien de Neuwied.*" I may observe that the figure given in Meyen's work, has the iris coloured bright red, instead of which it should have been brown.
Polyborus chimango, Vieill.
Haliaëtus chimango, Less.
Chimango, Azar. Voyage, vol. iii. p. 35.
My specimen was obtained at Maldonado, on the banks of the Plata. In the following short account of the habits of this bird, it must be understood that I have confounded together, the M. chimango and the M. pezoporus; but I am certain that almost every remark is applicable to both species. From what has been said under the last head, it may be inferred, that both of these allied birds have comparatively limited ranges, compared with that of the P. Brasiliensis. Azara says the Chimango (and he first distinguished this species from the M. ochrocephalus, or M. chimachima) is rarely found so far north as Paraguay. D'Orbigny saw the Chimango (M. pezoporus ?) at Arica in lat. 16°, and I killed the M. pezoporus in the extreme southern point of America, in lat. 55° 30' south.
The Chimango, in La Plata, lives chiefly on carrion, and generally is the last bird of its tribe which leaves the skeleton, and hence it may frequently be seen standing within the ribs of a cow or horse, like a bird in a cage. The Chimango often frequents the sea-coast and the borders of lakes and swamps, where it picks up small fish. It is truly omnivorous, and will eat even bread, when thrown out
* Tom. iii. p. 162.
of a house with other offal. I was also assured that in Chiloe, these birds (probably in this district the M. pezoporus) materially injure the potato crops, by stocking up the roots when first planted. In the same island, I saw them following by scores the plough, and feeding on worms and larvæ of insects. I do not believe that they kill, under any circumstances, even small birds or animals. They are more active than the Carranchas, but their flight is heavy; I never saw one soar; they are very tame; are not gregarious; commonly perch on stone walls, and not upon trees. They frequently utter a gentle, shrill scream.
Falco leucurus, Forster's Drawings, No.
—— Novæ Zelandiæ, Gm.
—— australis, Lath.
Circaëtus antarcticus, Less.
It will be observed in the above list of synonyms, which I have given on the authority of Mr. G. R. Gray, that this bird, although possessing well marked characters, has received several specific names. Mr. Gray's discovery of Forster's original drawing with the name F. leucurus written on it, I consider very fortunate, as it was indispensable that the names by which it is mentioned in most ornithological works, namely, Falco or Polyborus Novæ Zelandiæ, should be changed. There is not, I believe, the slightest reason for supposing that this bird has ever been found in New Zealand. All the specimens which of late years have been brought to England have come from the Falkland Islands, or the extreme southern portion of South America. The sub-family, moreover, to which it belongs, is exclusively American; and I do not know of any case of a land bird being common to this continent and New Zealand. The origin of this specific name, which is so singularly inappropriate, as tending to perpetuate a belief which would form a strange anomaly in the geographical distribution of these birds, may be explained by the circumstance of specimens having been first brought to Europe by the naturalists during Captain Cook's second voyage, during which New Zealand was visited, and a large collection made there. In the homeward voyage, however, Cook anchored in Christmas Sound, in Tierra del Fuego, and likewise in Staten Land: describing the latter place he says, "I have often observed the eagles and vultures sitting on the hillocks among the shags, without the latter, either young or old, being disturbed at their presence. It may be asked how these birds of prey live? I suppose on the carcasses of seals and birds, which die by various causes; and probably not few, as they are so numerous." From this description I entertain very little doubt that Cook referred to the Cathartes aura and Milvago leucurus, both of which birds inhabit these latitudes, as we shall hereafter show.
[page] 16 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.
The plumage in the two sexes of this species differs in a manner unusual in the family to which it belongs. The description given in all systematic works is applicable, as I ascertained by dissection, only to the old females; namely, back and breast black, with the feathers of the neck having a white central mark following the shaft,—tectrices, with a broad white band at extremity; thighs and part of the belly rufous-red; beak "ash gray," with cere and tarsi "Dutch orange."
MALE of smaller size than female: dark brown; with tail, pointed feathers of shoulders and base of primaries, pale rusty brown. On the breast, that part of each feather which is nearly white in the female, is pale brown: bill black, cere white, tarsi gray. As may be inferred from this description, the female is a much more beautiful bird than the male, and all the tints, both of the dark and pale colours, are much more strongly pronounced. From this circumstance, it was long before I would believe that the sexes were as here described. But the Spaniards, who are employed in hunting wild cattle, and who (like the aboriginal inhabitants of every country) are excellent practical observers, constantly assured me that the small birds with gray legs were the males of the larger ones with legs and cere of an orange colour, and thighs with rufous plumage.
The YOUNG MALE can only be distinguished from the adult bird by its beak not being so black, or cere so white; and likewise in a trifling difference of plumage, such as in the markings of the pointed feathers about the head and neck, being more like those of the female than of the old cock. One specimen, which I obtained at the Falkland Islands, I suppose is a one-year-old female; but its organs of generation were smooth: in size larger than the male; the tail dark brown, with the tip of each feather pale colour, instead of being almost black with a white band; under tail-coverts dark brown, instead of rufous; thighs only partly rufous, and chiefly on the inner sides; feathers on breast and shoulder like those of male, with part near shaft brown; those on back of head with white, like those of adult females. Beak, lower mandible gray, upper black and gray (in the old female the whole is pale gray); the edge of cere and the soles of the feet orange, instead of the whole of the cere, tarsi, and toes being thus coloured. The circumstance of the young birds of, at least, one year and a half old, as well as of the adult males, being brown coloured, will, I believe, alone account for the singular fewness of the individuals with rufous thighs, a fact which at first much surprised me.
The Milvago leucurus is exceedingly numerous at the Falkland Islands, and, as an old sealer who had long frequented these seas remarked to me, this Archipelago appears to be their metropolis. I was informed, by the same authority, that they are found on the Diego Ramirez Rocks, the Il Defonso islands, and on some others, but never on the mainland of Tierra del Fuego. This statement I can corroborate to a certain degree, since I never saw one in the southern part of
[BIRDS Pl. 1. Milvago albogularis]
Birds. Pl: 1.
Milvago albogularis.
[BIRDS Pl. 2. Craxirex Galapagoensis]
Birds. Pl: 2.
Craxirex Galapagoensis.
[BIRDS Pl. 3. Otus Galapagoensis]
Birds. Pl: 3.
Otus Galapagoensis.
[BIRDS Pl. 4. Strix punctatissima]
Birds. Pl: 4.
Strix punctatissima.
[BIRDS Pl. 5. Progne modestus]
Birds: Pl: 5.
Progne modestus.
[BIRDS Pl. 6. Pyrocephalus parvirostris]
Birds. Pl: 6.
Pyrocephalus parvirostris.
[BIRDS Pl. 7. Pyrocephalus nanus]
Birds: Pl: 7.
Pyrocephalus nanus.
[BIRDS Pl. 8. Tyrannula magnirostris]
Birds: Pl: 8.
Tyrannula magnirostris.
[BIRDS Pl. 9. Lichenops erythropterus]
Birds. Pl: 9.
Lichenops erythropterus.
[BIRDS Pl. 10. Fluvicola Azarae]
Birds. Pl: 10.
Fluvicola Azaræ.
[Continued in Birds Part 3 No. 2]
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 26 November, 2022


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There are several occasions in the Konkani calendar where Khotte is made.At my place,the toppers were during "suthan punav" or "aavani avittam"-the yearly ceremony of changing jannave/sacred thread,various "parab"s throughout the year-Samsar padavo/Ugadi,Diwali,Aarat and many other.And yeah,how could I forget the main one-when I land in Ekm,that is one big festival right?*wink wink*.Jokes apart,amma makes it whenever she can lay her hands on khotte paan and she makes sure it is made for breakfast one of the days am there.
Same goes with my ma-in-law.She makes it at least once every fortnight.Khotte paan is available in abundance at her sis's farm so that one is easy.I think,ma-in-law is the only person I have seen who makes the khotte with such ease.She makes it so fast,before you can learn to make one,she would have finished making the whole batch.Whenever she has family/guests coming over,it goes without saying that khotte is on the breakfast table.
I got some lovely khotte paan when they came here during Xmas.She made one big batch for breakfast one day and kept some leaves for me to experiment upon.Quite reluctantly,I started the process of making khotte.I had double duty,to take the pics too as I made it.I don't think my khottes came anywhere near to my ma-in-law's or amma's for that matter and they didn't look as pretty too,but as they say not even a single drop of batter leaked through it,so its fine.
Clean the jackfruit leaves by wiping them with a wet kitchen towel & arrange them together according to their size(small,medium&large).
Join the four leaves together using a shigir/stick-you could use more than one shigir for joining-whichever you are comfortable with.This is called "pathravali",this process is done first with all the leaves and then at the end the khotte mould is made.Once you finish making pathravalis,start making the moulds.Join two leaves together with the shigir like this,take care there isn't any gap between the leaves.Follow the same method at the opposite side of the joined part-this makes it easier for joining rest of the parts.
Now join the other two sides together and the mould will get this shape.
Do not worry if you don't get the perfect shape the first time you make it-keep trying and you'll get it right.I am satisfied if my khotte is made without any gaps/holes in between and it holds its shape when kept straight.Now you can start making the khotte-you could cut three stems and keep only one for easier handling.Pour batter in the moulds-do not fill it to the brim-upto ¾ is fine.
Incidentally,this is my 200th post and what better way to celebrate than having this special Konkani Breakfast!! I am very happy that I completed a double century and I hope to post many more traditional and experimental(!!) recipes!!


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Shelley Kofler
Shelley Kofler is managing editor/senior reporter for KERA News. She is an award-winning reporter and television producer who has served as KERA news director and the Austin bureau chief and legislative reporter for North Texas ABC affiliate WFAA-TV. Her expertise on legislative policy issues includes school finance, foster care and transportation; and her stories on the overmedication of foster children captured the attention of state officials who strengthened laws for the use of psychotropic drugs.
Shelley also covered government issues for North Texas NBC affiliate KXAS-TV and worked with KERA on numerous public affairs projects including nationally broadcast programs. She has reported on statewide elections and presidential primaries since the late 1980s. She also founded and operated her own communications firm, Kofler Communications, in Dallas and Austin. She served as a communications strategist and media trainer for various companies, agencies and public officials.
Shelley and the KERA news team have received numerous journalism awards for their public radio and television work. In addition to all-staff honors she has been individually singled out with a first place Edward R. Murrow award for a series of reports on the Trinity toll road decision; first place honors for political reporting from the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Association and the Houston Press Clubââââââââ


text:
Skift Take
The New York and New Jersey businesses that went into debt to re-open by the summer season are hoping that images of the damaged coast have been long forgotten by the destinations' usual visitors.
At the beginning of each tourist season, the entrepreneurs who pitch the thrill rides, hot dogs, sideshows and souvenirs at gritty Coney Island gather along its famous boardwalk to pray for two things: good weather and large crowds.
Never have they prayed harder than now.
Five months after Superstorm Sandy's surge swamped New York City's most storied beach destination, many businesses are pinning their hopes on a strong season to help them make up for the hundreds of thousands of dollars they have spent to get back up and running.
"We're almost dead, but we're open," said D.J. Vourderis, whose family owns and operates Deno's Famous Wonder Wheel Amusement Park. "We've built it; now we're just waiting for them to come."
Vourderis logged 92 hours the week leading up to Palm Sunday, when Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz smashed a bottle of egg cream on the famous Cyclone roller coaster to officially christen the new season at Coney Island — not really an island, but an American institution on a peninsula where, at the turn of the 20th century, it became one of the country's largest and most popular amusement areas.
The late October storm ravaged Vourderis' business, and he was forced to replace all the corroded relays, circuits, breakers and wiring on the Ferris wheel. The family has borrowed to stay afloat and is about $500,000 in the red after paying for the repairs to the iconic 1920 Wonder Wheel, replacing 24 new bumper cars and redesigning the entire inside of the Spook-A-Rama ride, which was waterlogged.
The boardwalk itself was left largely unscathed — but storm surge below the wooden planks flooded storage areas used by the Wonder Wheel park, with water reaching as high as 5 feet in some places, submerging equipment stowed away during the off season. The Wonder Wheel, like other seasonal businesses, was already due to close around the time of the Oct. 29 storm, so the time off was spent making repairs.
"It's going to take years to get us back to where we were," said Vourderis, standing over hundreds of mint-green quarters that were oxidized so severely that banks won't accept them without first having them cleaned in bleach. "I'm trying to look at the glass half full."
Some Coney Island staples that have been shut since the hurricane have no choice. The flagship Nathan's Famous hot dog stand won't reopen until Memorial Day. The New York Aquarium will reopen, only partially, in late spring. And the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball team is set for its June 18 home opener, though it's unclear whether its damaged field will be replaced with sod or artificial turf.
Gordon Lee's Eldorado Auto Skooter on Surf Avenue has an arcade room with nearly 40 percent fewer arcade games, after salt water ruined much of the machinery.
"I'm functional at this point," said Lee, demonstrating a metal coin wrapper that can no longer turn because its bearings have seized from corrosion. "Look, I'm open and operational. Am I 100 percent operational? No."
Lee has sunk about $100,000 of his savings into recuperating the arcade, buying new machinery and replacing 30 new bumper cars.
"We're open; we're on schedule," he said. "Now we just need people to start coming."
Nearly 11 million people flocked to Coney Island Beach last year between Memorial Day and Labor Day, according to city figures. Many attended well-known attractions, like the Nathan's Famous July 4 International Hot Dog-Eating Contest. And most of Coney Island's boardwalk bars, shops and restaurants are now open to sell cold beers, tchotchkes and fried clams to tourists and New York's most quirky characters alike.
But the strongmen and sword swallowers who perform at the Coney Island Circus Sideshow will be out of work until May 24, when owner Dick Zigun is able to open the first floor of the landmark building that houses it as well as a bar, gift shop and dressing room destroyed by Sandy.
After tallying $400,000 in damage from Sandy, Zigun's nonprofit Coney Island USA is hard-pressed to pay for this summer's Mermaid Parade, an annual gathering of more than 1,500 people marching in wacky — and often revealing — costumes to celebrate the kooky seaside culture of Coney Island.
"We're moving forward, even though it's questionable," Zigun said, adding that weather will be the deciding factor. "We are savvy Coney Island carneys; once we reopen, we are damn good at making money."
Luna Park amusement park says its nearly 30 rides are all open, including the wooden Cyclone Rollercoaster. Last year, 759,000 people visited Luna Park, 120,000 more than in 2011, according to the city.
Despite this recovery, many in the neighborhood surrounding the boardwalk are still looking for rebirth.
The Coney Island library is closed, and the post office is only partially open. More than two dozen unsalvageable buildings in or around Coney Island still need to be demolished, said Chuck Reichenthal, the district manager of the area's community board. With an unclear timeline for demolition, he said, air quality during the beach season could be an issue.
Still, he said, the fact that so much of the amusement park has opened already is an encouraging sign that Coney Island businesses will rebound and cover their losses.
"I am trying to be even more than cautiously optimistic and just be outwardly optimistic," he said. "The beach is ready; we don't find any more drifting materials from the Rockaways or other places. The ocean appears clean. Hey, let's have fun."
Copyright (2013) Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Photo credit: In this Saturday, March 30 2013 photo the beach and visitors to Deno's Famous Wonder Wheel Amusement Park in New York's Coney Island are seen from the park's famous ride. Mary Altaffer / AP Photo


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Chapter 28
Christ the Lord is risen—He appears to many—He has all power in heaven and earth—He sends the Apostles to teach and baptize all nations.
1 aIn the end of the bsabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for athe bangel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 aHis bcountenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 aAnd the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is arisen, as he said. Come, see the place where the bLord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 ¶ And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, aJesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
11 ¶ Now when they were going, behold, some of the awatch came into the city, and bshewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave alarge money unto the soldiers,
13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and asecure you.
15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
16 ¶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some adoubted.
18 And aJesus came and spake unto them, saying, All bpower is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 ¶ Go ye therefore, and ateach all bnations, cbaptizing them in the name of the dFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 aTeaching them to bobserve all things whatsoever I have ccommanded you: and, lo, dI am with you alway, even unto the eend of the world. Amen.


text:
Sony 'lens camera' will offer competition to the Lumia 1020, but looks awkward
When it comes to mobile photography, one could make the statement that Nokia right now is the company to watch. But firms like Samsung, Apple and even Sony cannot be dismissed either. Two of those tech giants can leverage their independent camera divisions for mobile and are seething with cash (sorry, HTC).
Today, Sony's rumored 'lens camera' has been leaked and we're at once curious and befuddled by the concept. But make no mistake, when this range of accessories goes public, comparisons to the Nokia Lumia 1020 will undoubtedly come forth.
So, what is it?
The Sony lens camera is exactly what it sounds like: it's an all in one lens that has a sensor, Wi-Fi/NFC for pairing, and even a microSD card for storage. It's literally a mini digital camera that you strap onto your Android or iOS device, giving a new level of quality to mobile users. The device pairs via NFC and connects over Wi-Fi making your smartphone basically a giant viewfinder.
See, now after reading that, it sounds less exciting, right?
The devices, DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100, have some impressive specs with the entry-level version (pictured) said to feature a 1/2.3-inch 18-megapixel sensor behind an f/3.3-5.9 Sony G lens with 10X optical zoom. No price was given for either.
But will consumers want it?
While it's an interesting solution, akin to Samsung's S4 Zoom, it seems a bit clunky to us, especially when compared to a literal camera-phone like the Lumia 1020. For one, you have to carry this lens-camera in your pocket or bag and by the shape of it (round bulge) it probably won't be too form fitting in your slacks.
Next, in order to use it, it has to pair via NFC-WiFi to make use of your screen, then the user needs to mount it to their phone. All of that takes away any potential spontaneity with the dual combo. It's also unclear if you have access to the photos on the smartphone directly, though we'll presume that you do.
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We don't want to criticize Sony too much here though. Mobile photography is still in its infancy and companies need to experiment to push the boundaries and see where we can go. Maybe some niche photo buffs will prefer the Sony method over carrying around a high quality point and shoot camera—indeed, it is smaller. Not to mention, it's quite impressive that they jammed basically a whole camera into a lens--think about that for a second.
But for the masses, the Nokia approach to us seems radical in all the core areas (sensor, technology), but conservative in others (size, integration), resulting an impressive device that feels familiar. That's a great selling point too.
We've been saying that 2013 - 2014 would be the year of the camera for smartphones, and now competition is heating up. What do you think about Sony's approach? Hit, miss or it's completely dependent on price?
Source: SonyAlphaRumors; via AndroidCentral
Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central. He is also the head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007, when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and watches. He has been reviewing laptops since 2015 and is particularly fond of 2-in-1 convertibles, ARM processors, new form factors, and thin-and-light PCs. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.


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A few months ago, my husband and I threw out our outdoor grill, and though it was a sad, sad loss it was a necessity. We're moving soon, and since the thing was rusty, crusty and all kinds of beat up after years of use, we decided it would be less of a burden to toss it and buy a new one later. But, the time to move came, went and became delayed, and without a grill we were itching every hour for a juicy grilled burger and an excuse to make the crispiest, most delicious oven-baked potato fries ever to go with it.
With our tiny, shiny new grill, now we have that excuse and can enjoy the spring and summer grilling that has become synonymous with this time of year. Hooray, huzzah, rejoice!
Thanks to Annie at Annie's Eats, the perfect potato fry became a reality with this simple recipe she shared from Cook's Illustrated. First, cut your potatoes into wedges (see this quick video on how to do it right), soak them in hot water and pat dry. Then, coat your baking sheet with oil, salt and pepper and bake for a little over half an hour, flipping once. Drain the grease with a paper towel, plate and enjoy these perfect fries – Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and great with a burger!
Now that I know how to do potato fries the right way, I'll never be going back to the less-than-crispy burger companions that I used to make. Try these for yourself and I'm sure you'd agree!
Crispy Oven-Baked Potato Fries
- 3 russet potatoes, peeled and cut lengthwise into wedges
- 5 tbsp. vegetable, canola or peanut oil, divided
- ¾ tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
- Preheat the oven to 475˚ F. Place the potato wedges in a large mixing bowl. Cover with hot water; soak for 10-30 minutes. Put 4 tablespoons of the oil onto a heavy, rimmed baking sheet. Tilt the sheet side to side to evenly coat the pan with oil (a pastry brush can also help with this). Sprinkle the pan evenly with the salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Drain the potatoes. Spread the wedges out on layers of paper towels or on clean kitchen towels. Pat dry with additional towels. Wipe out the now empty bowl so it is dry. Return the potatoes to the bowl and toss with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Arrange the potato wedges on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 5 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake until the bottoms of the potatoes are spotty golden brown, 15-20 minutes, rotating the baking sheet after 10 minutes. Using a metal spatula and tongs, flip each potato wedge keeping them in a single layer. Continue baking until the fries are golden and crisp, 5-10 minutes. Rotate the pan as needed to ensure even browning.
- When the fries are finished baking, transfer to a paper-towel lined plate to drain some of the grease. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.
- Enjoy!