12 ACCIPITRES. VULTURID,. 



the talons are comparatively weak, and but slightly 

 hooked : the head, and sometimes the neck, in a 

 greater or less degree, are naked, or clothed only 

 with a thin down ; as is also the skin that covers 

 the stomach. The wings are powerful and ample, 

 and the general plumage is remarkably stiff and 

 coarse. 



The Vultures are widely scattered over the 

 globe, but most abound in the regions that lie 

 between the tropics. There they may generally 

 be seen at all times of the day, soaring on motion- 

 less wings at a prodigious elevation, wheeling 

 round in large circles with a peculiarly easy and 

 graceful flight, as they reconnoitre the distant 

 earth below. The senses of sight and smell they 

 possess in great perfection, and notwithstanding 

 the assertions of Mr. Audubon, that the former 

 only is put in requisition by them, there is abun- 

 dant evidence that these birds are guided to their 

 food by the olfactory organs, as well as by those 

 of vision. 



GENUS SARCORAMPHUS. (DuM.) 



In this genus, which is confined to America, 

 and comprises but three species, the beak is large 

 and strong ; the nostrils are oval, and placed lon- 

 gitudinally at the edge of the cere ; the latter, as 

 well as the forehead, is surmounted by a thick 

 and fleshy comb or caruncle; the third quill- 

 feather is the longest ; the hind toe is very short. 



We illustrate this genus by the far-famed Con- 

 dor of the Andes, (Sarcoramphus gryphus, LINN.), 

 which, owing to exaggerated reports of its dimen- 

 sions from the early European travellers, was 

 formerly supposed to be identical with the fabu- 



