IV 



CATHARTIDAE 



139 



was hatched in London after fifty-four days' incubation, but 

 apparently nearly a year is taken to gain full powers of flight. 

 Gyparchus 'paixi, the King Vulture, of tropical America, save the 

 West Indies, has a small fleshy crest on the cere in both sexes, 

 but no wattles, though the skin of the sides of the head is 

 wrinkled ; the occiput is hairy, and a ruff of broad plumbeous 

 feathers surrounds the neck. The rump, tail, and most of the 



Fig, 37. Condor. Sarcorhamiihus gryphus 'i . x l-^. 



wings are black ; the remaining plumage being creamy white, the 

 bare throat and back of the neck yellow, the skin of the head and 

 neck elsewhere orange and red with blue patches near the ears, 

 the bill orange and black, the irides white. This bird haunts 

 woods near rivers and marshes, especially towards the coast, and 

 feeds on snakes and carrion, from which it drives all other species ; 

 in flight, habit of gorging, and eggs, it resembles the Condor. 

 Little smaller is the Californian Vulture {Pseiidogryphus calif or- 

 nianus), formerly extending to the Fraser Eiver in British 



