244 HISTORY OF THE 



and tail feathers pale brown, varying to yellowish white; bill chalk white: iris 

 grayish brown; naked skin of head and upper neck ( in life) dull livid crimson, 

 brightening to lake red on cere, the lores and top of head sometimes with whit- 

 ish, wart-like papillae. Young: Similar to adult, but bill blackish, and naked 

 skin of head and neck livid dusky, and the brownish margins to wing coverts, 

 etc., less distinct. Downy young: Covered with pure-white cottony down, the 

 head, however, naked, and sallow dusky. (Ridgway.) 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 27.50 70.00 22.00 11.50 2.30 1.00 



Female... 27.00 68.00 21.00 11.25 2.30 1.00 



A young female, in the "Goss Ornithological Collection," 

 reared in confinement and killed December 10th, measures: 

 26.25, 66.50, 20.00, 10.50, 2.25, .90. 



This Yulture is one of the greatest scavengers of nature. A 

 very abundant bird, especially in the warmer climates, where its 

 presence is of incalculable value as a gormandizer of the gar- 

 bage, filth and carrion that taint the air and breed disease. Were 

 it not for their valuable services, it would be hard to tolerate 

 their disgusting, filthy habits and ungainly ways upon the ground 

 and perch. In the air, however, as it sails and circles high 

 above us, with scarcely an apparent effort, we are forced to ad- 

 mit that it is a magnificent sight, and to inwardly say, ' ' Long 

 live the purifiers of the air. ' ' I have raised the young (downy 

 little fellows) from the nest, feeding them wholly upon fresh 

 meat, and find that the rank odor of the body is not produced 

 by the food it eats, but from natural causes, like the smell or 

 musk of many animals. 



These birds are mute, their only noise a hiss, like the sound 

 from hot iron being dropped into water. Cowardly birds, that 

 make no defense at their capture, but will occasionally, when 

 approached, raise their feathers, stamp their feet like sheep, and 

 hiss. 



Their nests are placed on rocky ledges and in hollow trees 

 and stumps. Eggs two, laid on the bare rocks or debris; no 

 lining ; 2 . 70 x 1 . 90 ; grayish white, variously and unevenly 

 blotched and splashed with light to dark reddish brown and 

 purplish drab; in form, rounded oval. 



