VULTURID.E. 



19 



SUB-FAMILY II. 

 Sarcoramphin.e."" 



The Condor. 



Ges. Chaeac. — Bill lengthened and rather slender, with the basal portion 

 more or less covered with a sofit cere ; the apical part strong, much curved, 

 and acutely hooked at the tip ; nostrils placed in the cere, with the opening 

 large, exposed, oblong, and longitudinal ; wings lengthened and pointed ; 

 tarsi long, and covered with small reticulated scales ; the middle toe length- 

 ened, the lateral ones short, equal, and united with the middle toe bj a 

 membrane ; hind toe generally short and weak. 



Fig. 9.— the condok. 

 {Sarcoramphus Gryphus.) 



The sub -family of the Condors embraces birds 

 met witb in countries very remote from each other, 

 and differing much in size ; but agreeing in their 

 appetite for carrion. Some of them (Neophron) are 

 found in Africa and India, where they live in large 

 flocks, and in Egypt, where they are held in great 

 respect, on account of the services they render to 

 the country by purifying it from the garbage upon 



* nap^, aapKOQ, ssirx, sarcos, flesh ; pcifitpog, ramphos, a crooked 

 beak. 



