2 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



Food. — Carrion, and any animals weak enough to be 

 overcome without trouble or danger. 



Gait. — A sedate walk. They perch freely. 



Flight. — In most species by sailing, like the Old World 

 Vultures ; but the small Black Vulture flaps and 

 sails alternately, like an ibis. 



Note. — A hiss only. 



Disposition and Habits. — They are, like Old World 

 Vultures, sociable, but cowardly and quarrelsome. 

 They seem never to bathe, and always have dirty 

 feet, like some storks. 



Economic Qualities. — They are useful scavengers, but 

 the Condor is often injurious to young cattle and 

 sheep. Its quills are valued as ornaments. 



Captivity. — They thrive well in this condition, and 

 the Condor and Black Vulture have laid eggs in 

 the London Zoological Gardens. 



Distribution and Important Species. — The species 

 of this family, seven in number, are confined to 

 America. The best known in menageries is the 

 celebrated Condor (Sarcorhamphus gryphus) of 

 the Andes, one of the largest of flying birds, and 

 unique in this family in showing a sexual difference 

 — the possession of a comb and dewlap by the male ; 

 but the most familiar is probably the small Black 

 Vulture (Catharistes atratus), a well-known town 

 scavenger in hot regions in America, where it is 

 commonly called " Carrion Crow." The Turkey- 

 buzzard (Cathartes aura), black with pink head and 

 feet, has the widest range, however. The Califor- 

 nian Vulture (C. calif ornianus), very similar to the 

 Turkey-buzzard, but with orange head and as big 

 as the Condor, is nearly extinct. The King- 

 Vulture {Gyparchus papa), of South America, 

 which exerts authority over the Black Vulture, 

 is mainly cream-colour, with an orange nasal 

 wattle and black quills and tail. 



