62 



VERTEBRATES: BIRDS. 



animals, which they trace by sight or scent at great dis- 

 tances. They make no nest, but deposit their eggs on 

 the ground or naked rock. There are three or four 

 kinds in the United States. The celebrated Condor 

 of the Andes, and the Lammergeyer of the Alps, are 

 vultures of the largest kind. The latter attacks lambs, 

 goats, and the chamois. The California Vulture is the 

 largest bird of prey in North America, being as large 

 as the largest Turkey ; the color is black, the head 

 orange and red. See Figure 104. 



FALCONS, HAWKS, AND EAGLES. 



These birds have the head clothed with feathers, and 

 their talons are very sharp. Their flight is rapid, and 

 they attack their prey with great ferocity, capturing 

 chickens, ducks, grouse, quails, hares, rabbits, squir- 

 rels, and other small animals. The species are numer- 

 ous, about seventy kinds of Eagles being known in all 

 countries; and more than thirty kinds of Falcons and 

 Hawks inhabit North America. The true Falcons have 

 a distinct tooth in the upper mandible, as seen in Fig- 

 ure 105. 



Fig. 105. American Peregrine Falcon, or Duck Hawk. 



The Duck Hawk, or Peregrine Falcon, of North 

 America, pursues its prey with almost inconceivable 



