American Vultures 203 



kinds. They mostly have short but very stout bills with a strongly arched tip 

 and sharp cutting edges, thus being admirably adapted for tearing flesh, skin, or 

 even breaking bones. They have mostly rather short, stout legs, although, as 

 will be shown later, there are certain notable exceptions to this. The feet are 

 also strong and provided, in most cases, with long, much curved, and very sharp 

 claws. In those which feed on dead animal matter, however, the claws are 

 often blunt and weak as compared with those which capture their own prey. 

 Another distinguishing feature is the cere, which is a peculiar membrane sheath- 

 ing the base of the upper mandible. The nostrils open in or through the edge 

 of the cere, which may be either soft or horny. There are only two other im- 

 portant groups of birds possessing the hooked bill and the cere: namely, the 

 Owls and the Parrots. From the former they differ in the close, harsher plumage, 

 non-reversible fourth toe (except Pandionina;), and diurnal habits, and from the 

 latter in the structure of the feet. Technically the Falcon-like birds have many 

 osteological features in common with the two preceding orders, but they may 

 always be separated from them by the raptorial feet, which are never webbed. 



The present order ( Falconiformes] is divided, according to Py craft, into three 

 suborders : the Cathartce, which embraces the American Vultures, the Gypogerani, 

 which includes only the Secretary-Bird of Africa, and the Accipitres, under which 

 is included all remaining forms of Falcons, Eagles, Hawks, Buzzards, Old World 

 Vultures, etc. The latter is further subdivided into two families, the Falconidce, 

 with two subfamilies, and the Buteonida, embracing thirteen subfamilies. The 

 characters on which each is founded are presented under the several headings. 



THE AMERICAN VULTURES 



(Suborder Cathartce) 



Notwithstanding the fact that the American Vultures quite closely resemble 

 the Old World Vultures in general appearance and habits, there are certain 

 marked differences which well entitle them to be ranked as a separate group. 

 Among other things they have the relatively short hind toe inserted above the 

 level of the others, lengthened, slightly hooked bills, and perforated nostrils, 

 that is, with an opening between them inside the bill. The head is entirely 

 naked or else partially covered with down, and the feet are provided with blunt 

 claws which are wholly unfitted for grasping. They feed largely, though not 

 exclusively, on decaying animal matter, and have the exceedingly offensive 

 habit of vomiting the foul contents of the stomach when captured or surprised. 

 They build no nest, the eggs from one to three, usually two in number being 

 placed in a hollow tree or log or in a cave or crevice in the rocks, or even on the 

 bare ground. The young are fed -by regurgitation, or the emptying of the con- 

 tents of the stomach into the mouths of the young. 



The American Vultures are all large, though somewhat sluggish, birds with 

 great powerful wings and are past masters in the art of flying. On this point 



