THE VULTURE. 



Condor. 



Turkey Vulturo. 



Turkey Vulture, or Turkey Buzzard. 



The King Vulture is a native of South America, seldom if ever being seen north of Florida. Travellers 

 relate that this species keeps the other Vultures under subjection, and does not suffer them to approach a 

 dead animal until he has completely satisfied his own appetite, which is certainly none of the smallest. 



The Turkey Vulture, or Turkey Buzzard, as it is sometimes called, inhabits a vast range of territory in 

 the warmer parts of the American continent, but in the northern and middle states of the Union it is par- 

 tially migratory, the greater part retiring to the south on trie approach of cold weather. In Mr. Darwin's 

 Journal we read that " the Turkey Buzzard is a solitary bird, or at most, goes in pairs. It may at once be 

 recognized from a long distance by its lofty soaring, and most elegant flight. It is well known to be a true 

 carrion-feeder." This bird is abundantly found in Jamaica, where it goes by the name of the John 

 Crow Vulture. It is there protected by law, every person who kills one within a certain distance of the 

 large towns being fined twenty-five dollars. Much contention has arisen between certain naturalists with 

 respect to the olfactory powers possessed by this bird. Mr. Gosse, in his volume, says, " Those who 

 ascribe the power which the Vulture possesses of discerning from a distance its carrion food, to the sense 

 of seeing or the sense of smelling, exclusively, appear to me to be both in error. It is the -two senses, 

 exerted sometimes singly, but generally unitedly, which give the facility which it possesses of tracing its 

 appropriate food from fur distances." The Turkey Vulture is two feet and a half in length, and with 

 wings extended upwards of six feet in breadth. The bill from the corner of the mouth is almost two 

 inches and a half long, of a dark horn color for upward of an inch from the tip of the nostril. 



Secretary Bird, devouring a Snake. 



King Vulture. 



Griffon Vulture, carrying off a Snake. 

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