152 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



VULTURES, HAWKS and OWLS. Order XII. RAPTORES. 

 AMERICAN VULTURES. Family CATHARTID/E. 



Vultures are peculiarly formed birds of prey, having a bare head and neck, a 

 lengthened bill strongly hooked at the end for tearing flesh, and long, strong, 

 broad wings upon which they float in the air for hours at a time without any 

 visible flapping. They are scavengers and do great service to mankind by de- 

 vouring dead animal matter, that, if allowed to remain, would soon taint the 

 atmosphere. Their eyesight and sense of smell is very acute. They do not, 

 except in very unusual cases, capture their prey, but feed upon that which has 

 been killed or died of disease. 



[Ashy gray.] 



324. California Vulture. Gymnogyps californianus. 



Range. Apparently now restricted to the coast ranges of California, casually 

 inland to Arizona, and formerly to British Columbia. 



This large bird, which weighs about 20 pounds, measures about 4 feet in 

 length, and has an expanse of wings of about 10 feet. Its plumage is blackish 

 with lengthened lanceolate feathers about the neck, and with the greater wing 

 coverts broadly tipped with grayish white (in very old birds). The birds are 

 very rare in their restricted range and are becoming scarcer each year, owing to 

 their being shot and their nests robbed. While the eggs are very rarely found 

 and only secured at a great risk, they are not as unobtainable as many suppose, 

 as may be seen from the fact that one private collection contains no less than 

 six perfect specimens of the eggs and as many mounted birds. These birds lay 

 but a single egg, placing it generally in caves or recesses in the face of cliffs, 

 hundreds of feet from the ground, and often in inaccessible locations. The eggs 

 are of an ashy gray color and measure about 4.45 x 1.55. 



