VULTURES. 607 
of standing a great amount of cold: when snow covers the ground 
in the great stock-raising State of Illinois they may be seen congre- 
gated in numbers wherever carrion is to be found. 
The Alpine Vulture (Percnopterus) is to the Old World what the 
Urubu and the Turkey Buzzard are to the New. It is very common 
in Greece, Turkey, Egypt,and Arabia. In Constantinople and other 
Eastern cities it performs the duty of the scavenger by removing all 
the putrid matter which the carelessness and apathy of the inhabitants 
allow to remain in the streets. A great amount of respect is con- 
sequently paid them ; and although the law inflicts no penalty for 
killing them, they nevertheless enjoy the most perfect security in the 
midst of the Mussulman population. 
These birds were well known to the ancients, who gave them the 
name of Percnopterus on account of the colour of their wings. The 
Egyptians classed them among sacred birds, and often represented 
them on their monuments as religious symbols. Flocks of them are 
in the habit of following caravans across the desert; and, as they 
invariably accompany the pilgrims in their journey to Mecca every 
year, some devout Mussulmen have bequeathed money sufficient to 
feed numbers of these birds which manifest such fidelity to the faith 
of Islam. 
They are about the size of a Domestic Fowl; hence they obtain 
the name of Pharaoh’s Chickens, by which they are designated in 
Egypt. Although they do not manifest much inclination for living 
prey, they will sometimes attack small mammals which are incapable 
of defence or flight. The Crow is an adversary whose superiority they . 
never fail to acknowledge, and rarely dare to resist. 
The Pondicherry Vulture (Vultur fponticerianus), the Indian 
Vulture (Vultur indicus), and Kolbe’s Vulture (Vudltur Kolbit), are 
also deserving of notice; the two former are found principally in 
Hindostan, the latter in different parts of Africa as well as Java. 
The Vultures properly so called (Vudtur, Cuv.) have the head and 
neck bare, the latter being surrounded at its base by a ruff or collar 
of feathers; the nostrils round or oval; the tarsi bare or feathered 
on the upper portion ; the iniddle toe very long ; the wings pointed, 
and almost hanging down to the ground. Their flight, although 
powerful, is slow and heavy ; they take wing with difficulty, and. this 
fact has procured for them their name of Vuétur (volatus tardus, 
slow flight). Preferring putrid meat, they feed but little on flesh in 
a fresh state, although they do not absolutely refuse it; they con- 
sequently seldom attack living animals. 
Buffon has branded the Vulture with a stigma of infamy which 
