ti2 



V EliTEBUATA. 



THE CALIFORNIA VULTURE. 



theirs. On observing that they did not heed me, I stole so close that my feet were within one 

 yard of the horse's legs, and again sat down. They all slid aloof a few feet; but, seeing me 

 quiet, they soon returned as before. They kept up the hissing occasionally. Some of them, 

 havino- their whole heads and legs covered with blood, presented a most savage aspect. Still as 

 the dogs advanced, I would order them away, wliich seemed to gratify the vultures ; and one 

 would pursue another to within a foot or two of the spot where I was sitting. Sometimes I ob- 

 served them stretching their necks along the ground, as if to press the food downward." 



The California Vulture, C. Californianus^ is a very large species, measuring three and a 

 half feet ; the head and neck are of an orange-color and bare, with a few short feathers on the 

 vertex; a ruff of lono- lanceolate feathers begins at the neck and continues to the breast: the 

 whole plumage is black, with some feathers tipped with brown ; the tail is slightly rounded. It 

 is found only on the western side of the Kocky Mountains, where it lives chiefly in the vicinity of 

 rivers, feeding on fish. 



Other species of this genus are Burrough's Vulture, C. Burrovianus, the smallest of known 

 vultures ; its plumage is black, and its length twenty-two inches ; it is found in Mexico, and no 

 doubt further south. Probably it exists in California. 



Genus GYPOGERANUS : Gijpogeranus ; this includes a single species, G. serpentarius, which 

 can hardly be classed with either the falcons, eagles, or vultures. It is called the Serpent Eater 

 because it feeds on serpents, and Secretary Vulture because it has a tuft of quills or feathers 

 on the head, reminding one of the quills which clerks or secretaries carry behind their ears. It 

 lives much on the ground, and measures three feet in length ; in appearance it is something like 



