RAPTORES. 289 



SECOND FAMILY. THE VULTURES. 

 Vulturidae. (Lat. vultur, a vulture.) 



This Family of the Raptorial Birds, feed on the flesh of ani- 

 mals already dead. Decomposition is not, however, a necessary 

 condition of their food, as is shown by the fact that they may fre- 

 quently be seen regaling themselves on -the flesh of an animal 

 within half an hour after it has been killed. Their geographical 

 distribution is confined to warm climates, where they act as 

 scavengers to purify the earth from the putrid substances with 

 which it otherwise would be encumbered. They are generally 

 protected by the natives of the countries which they inhabit, on 

 account of their utility in disposing of decayed animal remains. 



It has been a disputed point, whether Vultures are directed to 

 their fetid food by the sight, or the smell. Audubon was in 

 favor of the former, as the directing power ; and their lofty 

 flight and telescopic eye, are extremely well adapted to assist 

 these birds in detecting any dying or dead animal ; but many 

 facts mignt be adduced, tending to show that these birds are 

 guided to their food by the action of both sight and smell. 



The Vulture tribe are, on the whole, considerably larger than 

 the Falcon birds, but they are much less courageous. The 

 beak is lengthened, curved downward at the point, and not in 

 the least notched ; the talons are comparatively weak, by no 

 means corresponding with the stature of these birds, and used by 

 them far less than the beak. In order that the parts of the bird 

 which come in contact with its offensive food might not become 

 soiled or matted, as feathers, of course, would be by such con- 

 tact, the head, and sometimes the neck, in a greater or less de- 

 gree, are naked, or else covered only with a thin down ; the legs, 

 also, at the lowest part, are covered with scales, and not with 

 feathers, as in the Eagle. The wings are strong and large, and 

 the general plumage uncommonly thick and coarse. 



THE GRIFFON VULTURE, Vultur fulvus, (Lat. tawny,) is 

 found throughout a large extent of the Eastern Continent. This 

 Vulture has its head and neck covered with close set, short and 

 white downy feathers. The general color is yellow brown; the 

 length more than four feet. 



CATHARTES. (Gr. Kathartes, a purifier.) The Vultures of 

 this genus have a stout beak, but not the fleshy crest which these 

 birds sometimes exhibit ; and the head and neck are plumeless. 



THE TURKEY VULTURE, or TURKEY BUZZARD, C. Aura, (Gr. 

 aura, air,) is a species that inhabits a vast range of territory in 



