- In route to Mexico, the two have their troubles, due mostly to keeping each other uncertain of their plans, thoughts, and feelings.
- They're both jealous of the other's past romances.
- She tries to make herself more attractive to Augie. Augie is happy with how she is already.
- Nervousness about pregnancy is also a constant issue.
- They pick up the bird from a roadside zoo. Augie recognizes the seller for a "crooked old bastard."
- Thea is excited and fearless as the cage opens. Augie not so much.
- It attacks Augie in the arm, but not seriously.
- They place it in the back of the station wagon. As they're driving away, Augie takes note of the shotgun behind the seat.
- Thea turns to look at the bird a lot as they travel.
- They stop at places throughout Texas to practice with the eagle.
- Thea is mad about the bird for his progress. Augie is mad about Thea.
- To have the bird hunting, it has to be hooded, but to keep a hood on the bird, it has to be mastered. So they spend hours at a time with the bird on the arm. Augie counts a sleepless forty hours of the bird on his arm.
- In Mexico a small crowd gathers, seeing them with the bird as they get to the hotel.
- Children scream, "El áquila!" This sounds to Augie like Caligula, and so the eagle gets his name.
- It takes time for Thea and Augie to get Caligula to submit to the hood, but with persistence they succeed.
- Augie passes out from exhaustion.
- They get supplies in Monterrey and drive on.
- When they stop for the night, the two argue over whether to bring the bird into the hotel or leave it in the car. Thea wins the argument. He comes in with them.
- The next training with Caligula is flight. They use giblets to lure him and practice in the mountains.
- They admire on another and their progress.
- After ten days they reach Mexico City and stay at an inexpensive hotel that doesn't seem to mind the bird.
- Thea and Augie sleep a lot during the day, using the night to see the city.
- Augie says there's so much he doesn't know.
- Thea asks him how much he's obliged to know.
- Augie doesn't want Thea to rush the divorce, but he also assumes that once it's done Thea will marry him.