

VULTUUIDJE. 



As the British Fauna can only lay claim to a 

 single species of this family, and that in the cha- 

 racter of an extremely rare visitant, we do not 

 propose to enter into many introductory remarks. 



The Vulturidae have universally been looked 

 upon with a kind of disgust. Ungraceful in form, 

 of loose and ill-kept plumage, and except when 

 satisfying the cravings of hunger, or during the 

 season of incubation, of sluggish and inactive 

 manners, they present nothing attractive ; while 

 carrion being generally mentioned as their com- 

 mon food, associations have beoft created of the 

 most Jiathsome character. They are not, how- 

 ever, without utility, for in the warmer regions 

 of the world they consume the animal remains, 

 which, without the assistance of these birds, the 

 more ignoble carnivorous quadrupeds, and the 

 myriads of carcase-eating insects, would soon 

 spread pestilence around. In many parts of Spain 

 and Southern Europe our British visitant is 

 allowed to roam unmolested ; in America the 

 species there traverse the towns, and are kept in 



