THE VULTURE. 



119 



brance to the bird ; accordingly the head and lower part of 

 the neck, in all the tribe, are more or less covered either with 

 down or wattles, or the skin is left almost naked, as in the 

 accompanying figure 2. 



As may be well conceived from the nature of their food, 

 these birds are very disgusting in various ways, much more 

 so than we can form an idea of, from seeing them when 

 kept in clean cages, and fed sparingly, on comparatively fresh 

 and wholesome meat. In their wild and natural state, no 

 one who has once been near them, would willingly approach 

 too closely a second time, as their smell, increased by a greasy 

 sort of perspiration, drawn out by the heat of the sun, is 

 dreadfully offensive ; and their appearance very different from 

 the bold fine Eagle, perched on his pinnacle of a rock. 



The Griffon, or Fulvous Vulture 



