NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK — HOLLISTEE 325 



AMERICAN VULTUKES 



A group of raptorial birds peculiar to America includes our com- 

 mon turkey vulture or " buzzard," the carrion crow, and the condors. 

 There is little necessity for showing specimens of the turkey vulture 

 (Cathartes aura) in cages, since many wild birds of this species 

 make the park their permanent home. The retired wooded slopes 

 bordering the Zoo offer ideal congregating and roosting places for 

 all the "buzzards" of the surrounding country. The birds are en- 

 couraged to remain here as an added attraction to the park, and many 

 visitors from Northern States to whom the " buzzard " is an un- 

 familiar sight are delighted to see them at such close quarters and to 

 watch their graceful flight. 



The California condor (Gymnogyps calif orniarms) formerly 

 ranged northward along the Pacific coast to the Columbia River 

 and was an abundant bird in southern California. It is now rarely 

 seen, great numbers having been poisoned by the ranchers in efforts 

 to exterminate the carnivorous animals. A few linger in parts of 

 southern California and in the San Pedro Martir Mountains of 

 Lower California, Mexico. It is deplorable that so fine a member 

 of our avifauna should disappear, but the same fate is in store for 

 other less notable species — even the exceedingly beneficial turkey 

 vulture, after long years of protection, is now under the ban of 

 mistaken legislation and is becoming greatly reduced in numbers in 

 many of our Southern States. Three splendid specimens of the 

 California condor are shown in an outside cage west of lion-house 

 hill. 



Another striking bird of this group is the king vulture {Sarco- 

 ramphus papa) , also of South America. It is a beautifully colored 

 species which has a habit of strutting or dancing with the body held 

 rigidly erect, the wings partially spread, and the head thrown for- 

 ward "against the breast. 



GALLINACEOUS BIRDS 



This order includes all of the true " fowls," domestic poultry, 

 and the various species of pheasants, quail, and grouse. It is a group 

 of birds of special interest to the sportsman, since almost all of the 

 so-called upland game birds are members of the order. Many species 

 of gallinaceous birds are of great beauty and are kept purely for 

 show purposes, while others are easily reared in sufficient numbers to 

 stock depleted covers and provide recreation for lovers of outdoor 

 sports. Game keepers have paid much attention in late years to 

 breeding the more hardy and easily kept species and are now turn- 



