252 LOST AND VANISHING BIRDS 



said to be extremely rare, and but very few 

 specimens have been obtained of late years. The 

 extreme usefulness of this and kindred species as 

 scavengers should cause them to be carefully 

 preserved. The habits of the California Vulture 

 are very similar to those of other Vultures. The 

 bird is fond of soaring at an immense height, as if 

 surveying the whole surrounding country in quest 

 of food. It is said that this Vulture was formerly 

 in the habit of going up the Columbia River for 

 five hundred miles to eat the dead salmon stranded 

 upon the banks. Its food is almost exclusive!}'- 

 composed of carrion, the bird rarely attacking 

 animals unless wounded or weakly. Whether 

 these birds hunt by sight or by smell still seems 

 a moot point. As most readers know, Waterton 

 strongly supported the latter view ; possibly the 

 birds find food by the exercise of both senses. Mr. 

 Lucas writes of this species : " Soaring as they do 

 at great heights, these birds command a view over 

 a territory many miles in extent, their keen eyes 

 not only searching the ground below, but keeping 

 a sharp lookout on the behaviour of any of their 

 fellows that chance to be within sight. No sooner 

 does one bird spy a prospective dinner, than 

 another, still farther away, is apprised of the fact 



