THE CALIFORNIA VULTURE 251 



poisoned by feeding on the carcasses prepared for 

 the four-footed scavengers." In the face of such 

 facts, it seems difficult to suggest any way in 

 which this noble species can be saved, except by 

 making the practice of strewing poison in this 

 wanton manner illegal. We should like to see the 

 use of poison — and especially strychnine — made 

 illegal in the British Islands; it is a nefarious 

 practice, and its results are far-reaching and 

 disastrous. To their credit be it said, we have 

 known gamekeepers too humane to employ such 

 a method in destroying vermin ; although, alas ! 

 there are others who without compunction are too 

 ready to place a poisoned egg for the benefit of 

 Jays and Magpies, and any other species that may 

 be tempted to taste the fatal lure. The death 

 agony of these poor unfortunate poisoned birds is 

 too sad to dwell upon. 



The California Vulture never seems to have been 

 a very common bird. Formerly this species ranged 

 the country between the Sierra Nevadas ^ and the 

 coast from the Colorado to the Columbia rivers, 

 but the few that are left appear now to be confined 

 to Southern California. Even here the bird is 



' There is some evidence to suggest that this species is yet fairly 

 common in the Sierra Xevada (Conf. Ibis, 1896, p. 412). 



