136 NATURAL HISTORY. 



is daily seen in the streets of the southern cities acting 

 the part of a scavenger. I once saw two of them, near 

 the market in Charleston, quarreling for the possession 

 of the entrails of an animal. 



230. Some of the Vultures approach the Eagle in their 

 form and habits. This is the case with the Bearded Vul- 

 ture of the Alps, Fig. 113. It has this name from the 



Fig. 113. Bearded Vulture of the Alps. 



long hair-like feathers with which each nostril is covered. 

 As in the Eagles, the head, neck, and legs are covered 

 with feathers, but in the characters of the eye, beak, and 

 talons it is like the Vultures. Besides carrion, it feeds 

 on the smaller quadrupeds which it takes as prey. It is 

 very bold, and when very hungry will attack larger ani- 

 mals, and even men. It is found not only about the 

 Alps, but also among the mountain ranges of Africa and 

 Western Asia. 



231. The Owls constitute the third family of the Rap- 

 tores. They are the only birds of prey which are noc- 

 turnal in their habits, and all their peculiarities are adapt- 

 ations to these habits. These I will notice. The eyes 

 are very large, with widely opening pupils, so as to ad- 



