CATHAETID^ — THE AMERICAN VULTURES. 



341 



try in search of food. Often wlien hunting in the Tejon Valley, if unsuccess- 

 ful, they would be several liour.s without seeing one of this species ; but as 

 soon as they succeeded in bringing down any large game, these birds 

 would be seen rising above the liorizon before the body had grown cold, and 

 sliiwly sweeping towards tliem, intent upon their share of the game. In the 

 absence of the hunter, unless well protected, these marauders will be sure 

 to drag out from its concealment the slain animal, even though carefully cov- 

 • ered with branches. Dr. Heermann states that he has known them to dra" 

 out and devour a deer within an hour. This Vulture possesses immense 

 muscular power. Dr. Heermann has known four of them to drag the body 

 of a young grizzly bear, 

 that weighed over a hun- 

 dred pounds, the distance 

 of two hundred yards. 

 Dr. Cooper states that it 

 visits tlie Columbia River 

 in autuuni, when its 

 shores are lined with great 

 numbers of dead salmon, 

 on which, in company ^ 

 with other birds and va- jr. 

 rious animals, it feasts for ^ 

 a couple of months. He 

 considered it, however, 

 only a visitor at certain 

 seasons, and not a resi- 

 dent even through the 

 summer. He did not see 

 it, nor did he hear of its presence at Puget Sound. 



It is stated by Douglas that these Vultures will in no instance attack any 

 living animal unless it be so severely wounded as to be unable to walk. 

 Their senses of sight and smell are very acute, especially the former ; and 

 when searching for prey they soar to a very great height, and if they 

 chance to disco\-er a wounded animal they immediately follow and attack it 

 whenever it sinks down. The first comers are soon followed by others, and 

 it is not long before the carcass is reduced to a skeleton. After thus feed- 

 ing, they remain for a while sluggish and reluctant to move. At these times 

 they perch on dead trees, witli their heads drawn down, and their wings 

 drooping over their feet. Except after feeding, or when protecting their 

 nests, they are said to be very wary, and are with great difficulty shot by the 

 hunter. Their flight is descril)ed as slow, steady, and graceful, and they 

 glide along with little or no perceptible motion of the wings, the tips of 

 which are curved upward in flying, in the manner of the Tui-key-Buzzard. 

 They are said to appear most numerous and to soar the highest preceding 

 thunder-storms and tempests. 



PsPltflo^njiilttis cnlifomianus. 



