KING OF THE VULTURES. CONDOR. 33 



J3 L Almost entirely feathered, PERCNOPTERITS. 



15. VULTURES PROPERLY so CALLED, are distinguished by their 

 naked head and neck, by the ruff or collar of feathers that sur- 

 rounds the base of the neck, by their stout, strong beak, and by 

 the disposition of their nares. (Plate 3, fig. 6.) They have no 

 fleshy excrescences on the head, and they belong exclusively to 

 the old continent, 



16. The most widely diffused species, is the Yellow or Fulvous 

 Vulture, Viilfur fnlcus, which equals, and even surpasses 

 the Swan in size ; it is found on all the mountains of the eastern 

 continent. 



17. The SARCORAMPHUS differs from the Vulture properly so 

 called in the fleshy caruncles which grow above the base of the 

 beak ; it inhabits the western continent. [The genus consists of 

 two species.] 



18. The King of the Vultures, Vultur papa, is a species 

 of Sarcoramphus of the size of the goose, which inhabits the 

 warm parts of South America ; it derives its name from the fear 

 with which it inspires another species of Vulture of the same 

 country, (the Percnopterus Urubu) which abandons its prey and 

 always gives place to him. 



19. To this group also belongs the Condor, or great Vulture 

 of the Andes, Vultar gryphus, so famous, through exagge- 

 rated accounts, for its size and strength. It is not much more 

 than four feet long, but its spread wings often measure more than 

 ten feet ; it flies higher in.the air than any other bird ; it inhabits 

 the most elevated of the Cordilleras of the Andes, and never 

 descends to the plain except when pressed by hunger. [Condors 

 are frequently seen, on the shores of Chile and Peru, feeding on 

 the carcasses of whales that have been accidentally thrown upon 

 the beach, or left by whalemen.] 



15. What are ihe generic characters of Vultures properly so called I 



16. What species of Vulture is most common ? Where is it found ? 



17. Where is the Sarcoramphus found ? 



18. From what circumstance does the King of the Vultures derive i's name ? 



19. What is the size of the Condor ? Where is it met with ? What are 

 its habits ? For what is it most remarkable? 



