34 



fCathartes atratusj succeeding in discovering hidden food, 

 apparently by the sense of smell alone. 



Another peculiarity which is noticeable in many of the 

 Vultures is theii- great tenacity of life, of which several 

 singular instances are recorded. 



The bare skin on the head and neck of the Vultures 

 is of various colours in different species, and in some, the 

 tints which are on these parts not only differ in specimens of 

 different ages, but also vary in conformity with the passions 

 of the bird, with the season of the year, or with the degree of 

 repletion of the Vulture's stomach. 



SUB-FAMILY THE FIRST. 

 CATHARTIN^ or VULTURES of the NEW WORLD. 



The American Vultures may be considered as forming of 



themselves a well-defined sub-family, distinguished from all 

 the Vultures of the Old World by the absence of any septum 

 between the nostrils, the effect of which is that the two nostrils 

 present at their lower extremity the appearance of a single 

 perforation passing transversely through the cere covering the 

 posterior portion of the upper mandible. 



