ZOOLOGY. 65 



minutes elapsed before we found it, the Titmouse had 

 brought it to the ground, and had picked out the greater 

 part of the brain ; this propensity runs through the whole 

 genus ; in fact, several of the foreign species would rank 

 with either Lanius or Pariis, without any considerable 

 departure from the generic order, and the Parus biar- 

 micus has been changed from one genus to the other by- 

 various Authors ; — indeed it is known by the name of Least 

 BuTCHER-BiKD as well as Bearded Titmouse. 



The (oxjjl first genera feed principally on such Animals as 

 they are able to overcome, or procure by stratagem ; ia 

 default of which, dead and putrid carcasses are greedily 

 devoured. The two last genera feed on small birds ; insects, 

 worms and some of the species will devour grain. 



1. VuUur. Vulture. Bill strait, hooked at the point; 

 headvLwA. neck bare of feathers, with a naked skin in 

 front; tongue c\eii; ?zec/c retractile. 



This is a tribe of Birds, which, though often disgusting in 

 form, and always so in manners, ranks amongst the more 

 valuable, and useful families ; being generally natives of hot 

 climates, where the putrifying carcasses of Animals would 

 soon create pestilence, were it not for this and some other 

 tribes appointed to consume putrid matter. Most of the 

 species build a loosely constructed nest, composed of sticks ; 

 in rocky and mountainous situations, and they usually lay 

 but two eggs. All of the kinds possess an exquisite sense of 

 smell, and discover carrion, or other putrid substances at 

 astonishing distances; they are of a shy and mostly of a 



T 



