270 



NATUllAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



cially on a small limb, and so, although they do sometimes roost on trees, they much 

 prefer to rest and sleep on hare roeks and the ledures of slieer ]irecii>ice8. 



They are said to he siieli sound sleejiers that they are easily caught with a noose 

 while roosting at night. Although fre<juently descending to the plains at the foot of 

 the mountains for food, tiieir favorite haunts are among the peaks of the higher 

 Andes, not rarely above the line of ])eri>etual snow, and they rise easily above the 



yupi^^'si .. -'J^i 





Fig. 128. — Sarcorhamphiui f/rupfnut, ctmilor. 



highest peaks, sweeping in graceful circles far above the sno\v-caj)ped volcanoes, or 

 gliding thence in a few seconds almost to the sea level and the torrid heat of the 

 plains. 



Although they feed mostly on carrion, they are e(|ually fond of fresh meat, and 

 often kill lamlis, goats, and the young of cattle and deer. Probably the guaiiaco and 

 vicuna furnish a goodly share of their food. They watch from an immense height 

 the movements of the jiuma, and, .as soon as he withdraws satisfied from his dead 

 game, descend and sjieedily linish what remains. 



