VOLTURE Iol5 
VULTURE, the name of birds whose best-known characteristic 
is that of feeding upon carcases, and, owing to this obscene habit, 
are regarded with favour as useful scavengers in many hot countries. 
The genus Vuliur, as instituted by Linnzeus, is now restricted by 
ornithologists to a single species, V. monachus, of which more 
presently, the other species included therein by him, or thereto 
referred by succeeding systematists, being elsewhere relegated ; 
but the most important taxonomic change that has been introduced 
is that by Prof. Huxley (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, pp. 462-464), who 
KinG-VULTURE (Gypagus papa). 
pointed out the complete structural difference between the Vultures 
of the New World and those of the Old,! regarding the former 
as constituting a distinct Family, Cathartidw (more properly 
named Surcorhamphidx), while he united the latter with the ordinary 
diurnal Birds-of-Prey as Gypactidy (LAMMERGEYER, p. 501, note). 
This arrangement overlooks the signification of some considerable 
distinctions, and it would appear more reasonable to recognize the 
existence of a Family Vulturidz, confined to the true Vultures of 
1 This separation had already been made by Brandt (Journ. fiir Orn. 1853, 
p- 181), but he contented himself with dividing the Vultures into two subfamilies, 
Temnorhines or Sarcorhamphine and Holorhines or Vulturine. 
