S74r Mr. Vigors's Sketches in Ornithology, 



If we fix our attention then on these two distinguishing charac- 

 ters, and at the same time take into consideration the size and 

 strength, and the consequent powers of body that separate the 

 Vultures from all other groups in Ornithology, we may at once 

 determine that the birds in which these characters are most 

 strongly conspicuous, will form the typical group of the family. 

 Those species therefore may be selected as forming the Normal 

 Group of the Vulturidce^ in which the powers of the bill and 

 legs are most apparent, the head and neck most devoid of fea- 

 thers, and the organs of smell most fully developed. This group 

 will be found chiefly to inhabit the torrid regions, and their food 

 to be almost exclusively carrion, which they prey upon for the 

 most part in large flocks. On the other hand, the Aberrant Group 

 will comprise those birds which exhibit a comparative weakness 

 in the bill and legs, a less extension of the organs of smell, and 

 a smaller portion of the head and neck devoid of plumage; or, 

 where although some degree of the size and strength of the more 

 typical birds is preserved, the greater part of the head and neck is 

 covered with feathers. This group may be observed to spread 

 itself over the higher and colder latitudes more extensively than 

 the typical Vultures^ and to seek occasionally a living prey, which 

 they frequently pursue either singly or by pairs. 



§ Normal group. General conformation powerful', head 

 and neck bare of feathers j organs of smell strongly 

 developed. 



The Normal group^ as it has been found to be the case in all the 

 hitherto examined departments of Zoology, divides itself into 

 two distinct forms, which, in addition io their differences in 

 external character, are distinguished by their geographical dis- 



Nec Tityon volucres ineunt Acherunte jacentem; 

 Nee, quod sub magno scrutentur pectore, &c. &c. 



Lucret. de Rer. Nat. III. 997. 



Et Tityo8 



lateris piger sulcator opaci 



Invitus trahitur lasso de pectore Vultur. 



Claudian De Rapt. Proserp. II. 338. 

 See also Claudian. In Ruf. II. 511. Horat. Carm. I. iv. 77. Petron. 

 Are. Fragm. p. 866. Ed. Burmanni. 1743, Sec. &c. 



