296 ZOOLOGY. 



the Vultures are directed to a wise end. They are the scavengers of the hot 

 parts of the earth, performing valuable services in destroying dead animals 

 immediately after life has ceased, in countries where large quadrupeds and all 

 animals most abound. 



It was long believed that Vultures were attracted to decaying matter by 

 a very exquisite poAver of scent, which was supposed to enable them to distin- 

 guish it at a great distance. The testimony of modern naturalists, especially 

 Le Vaillant and Audubon, has completely disproved this opinon. The former 

 found it impossible to protect animals which he had killed, except by covering 

 them, which he sometimes did, with branches and leaves of trees, and found 

 that they Avere no more interfered with. Audubon made several careful and 

 conclusive experiments to the same purpose. It would, however, perhaps 

 be venturing too much to assert that birds of this family have not the sense of 

 smell in rather an unusual degree, since a well developed olfactory apparatus 

 has been satisfactorily demonstrated. We may safely conclude though, 

 that in cases where Vultures are seen to converge from various directions in 

 the atmosphere towards a recently dead animal, they are guided exclusively 

 by their piercing vision. 



Of all families of birds the Vultures sustain the most lofty flight. Thus 

 the traveller in the highest ranges of the Andes often sees the Condor, the 

 largest of Vultures, soaring yet far above him, a mere speck in the heavens. 

 For this purpose they are well fitted by the lightness of their bones, which 

 in some species are hollow throughout, even to the toes. The common Turkey 

 buzzard {Cathartes aura) has a skeleton so light as to weigh little over four 

 ounces. 



Except in the capacity of scavengers the Vultures are of little economi- 

 cal importance. Nothing but the most direct and pressing necessity would 

 cause their rank flesh to be eaten, and their feathers are not useful. They 

 occur in all torrid and temperate regions, very abundant in the former and 

 frequently met Avith in the latter, rarely passing beyond the limits of the tem- 

 perate zone. 



Suh-fam. 1. Vulturince, or true Vtdtures. Bill strong and somewhat 

 elongated, more or less compressed, the basal half covered with a cere ; 

 upper mandible abruptly hooked ; nostrils generally placed transversely in 

 the cere and exposed ; wings long ; tarsi covered with small scales. Head 

 naked, Avith the skin generally wrinkled and Avith scattering hairs ; neck 

 partially naked. 



The true or typical Vultures are restricted to the old Avorld. and are 

 found in great numbers (thougli of few species) in the Avarmer parts of 

 Asia and in Africa, Avhile in Europe one species only occurs sparingl3^ 

 Nearly all the species are large birds, and they perform the same oflBces of 

 scaveno^ers as their relatives, the Turkey buzzards and Carrion croAvs. do 

 in America, in Avhich capacity they are of great importance in the densely 

 -populated Asiatic cities, and, in fact, in all tropical countries. This sub- 

 family presents in the highest degree the general characters of the Vulture 

 ffamily, the naked head, neck, and tarsi, by Avhich they are better enabled 

 to partake of their putrescent food than if those parts were clothed Avith 

 600 



