APPENDIX. 



CALIFORNIAN VULTURE. 



(Cathartes Calif ornianus, Bonap. Sarcoramphus Californianns, 

 Vigors, Zool. Journ. ii. p. 375.) 



This bird has not yet been discovered to the eastward of 

 the Rocky Mountains. According to Mr. Douglas (in the 

 Zoological Journal) it is common in the woody districts of 

 California, migrating in summer as far as the 49th parallel ; 

 but was no where so abundant as in the valley of the 

 Columbia between the Grand Rapids and the sea. They 

 build in the thickest of the Pine forests, seeming to give a 

 preference to those trees which overhang the precipices in 

 the least accessible parts of the mountain valleys. The nest 

 is large, composed of strong thorny twigs and grass, like 

 that of the eagle, but more slovenly put together. The 

 pair resort to the same eyry year after year, and lay 2 

 nearly spherical black eggs, about the size of those of the 

 goose. They hatch about the beginning of June, and incu- 

 bate 29 or 30 days. The young are covered with thick 

 whitish down, and remain incapable of leaving the nest 

 until the fifth or sixth week. Their food is carrion, or 

 dead fish ; and in no instance are they observed to attack 

 any living animal, unless it be wounded and unable to walk. 

 In quest of their prey, they soar to a great height, and on 

 discovering a wounded deer, or other animal, they follow its 

 track until it sinks, and then descend upon it precipitately, 

 47* 



