Lg 
Rha ET LS sae 2 > & 
CATHARTID/Z, AMERICAN VULTURES. 221 
The American vultures differ in so many essential respects from those of the 
Old World, that they should unquestionably rank as a separate family, whatever 
may be the propriety of uniting the others with the Fulconide. In a certain sense, 
they represent the gallinaceous type of structure; our species of Cathartes, for 
instance, bear a curious superficial resemblance to a turkey. ‘They lack the strength 
and spirit of typical Raptores, and rarely attack animals capable of offering resist- 
ance; they are voracious and indiscriminate gormandizers of carrion and animal 
refuse of all sorts—efficient and almost indispensable scavengers in the warm 
countries where they abound. They are uncleanly in their mode of feeding; the 
nature of-their food renders them ill-scented, and when disturbed they eject the 
foetid contents of the crop. Although not truly gregarious, they assemble in multi- 
tudes where food is plenty, and some species breed in communities. When gorged, 
Fic. 14, Californian Vulture. 
they appear heavy and indisposed to exertion, usually passing the period of diges- 
tion motionless, in a listless attitude, with the wings half-spread. But they spend 
most of the time on wing, circling high in the air; their flight is easy and graceful 
in the extreme, and capable of being indefinitely protracted. On the ground, they 
habitually walk instead of progressing by leaps. Possessing no vocal apparatus, 
the vultures are almost mute, emitting only a weak hissing sound. The plumage in 
Cathartes is sombre and unvaried; its changes are slight; the sexes are alike in 
color; the 9 is not larger than the g. The famous condor of the Andes, Sarcor- 
hamphus gryphus, the king vulture, S. papa, and the following species of Cathartes, 
with their one or two South American analogues, compose the family. 
