RAPTORES : VULTURES. 



183 



hunger ; they prefer to feed on dead and decaying animals 

 which they chance to find. In a word, they are the scav- 

 engers among Birds, as the Hyenas are among Mammals. 



FIG. 216. 



California Vulture, Cathartes calif or nianus, Shaw. 



They are often called Buzzards, and are the most numer- 

 ous in warm countries, where they serve a most important 

 purpose in removing dead and decaying animals. The 



