( iro ) 



CHAPTER YIL 



Vultures. Loathsome Feeders. Strength of. Snake-Eater. Mode of 

 Killing Serpents. Hawks. Character of. Hawking for Bustards. 

 Value of. Iceland Falcons much prized. Falconry in Former Days. 

 Contest with Herons. Modes of Catching. The Sparrow-Hawk. 

 Anecdotes. The Glede, or Kite. Herons. Food of the Hawk Tribe. 

 Their Disposition. The Hawks sacred to the Egyptians and Turks. 



VULTURES are nearly allied to the Eagles in point of size and 

 some of their habits ; they yet differ from them considerably 

 in others ; generally speaking, they may be easily distinguished 

 by the head and part of the neck being either quite naked or 



The Vulture. 



covered with a short down. Instead of ranging over hill and 

 valley in pursuit of living game, they confine their search to 

 dead and putrefying carcases, which they prefer; and justly 



