BIRDS. 



RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 



IN the Birds which constitute the present order, the bill is some 

 what hooked, having the upper mandible or division either dilated a 

 little towards the point, or furnished with a tooth-like process. The 

 nostrils are open. The feet are stout, and armed with strong hookfXJ 

 claws three placed forward, and one backward. 



OF THE YULTUKES IN GENERAL. 



THE Vultures have their bill straight, and hooked only at the end 

 its edges are sharp, like a knife, 

 and the base is covered with a 

 thin skin. The head, cheeks, 

 and, in many species, the neck, 

 are either naked, or clad only 

 with down or short hairs. The 

 tongue is large, fleshy, and cleft 

 at the end. The craw often 

 hangs over the breast. The 

 legs and feet are covered with 

 great scales ; and the first joint 

 of the middle toe is connected 

 to that of the outermost by a strong membrane. The claws are large, 

 somewhat hooked, and very blunt ; and the inside of the wings ia 

 covered with down. 



The characters which principally distinguish the Birds of this tribe 

 from the Eagles and Falcons, are the want of feathers on part of the 

 head, and sometimes even on the whole head and neck ; and their 

 voracious manners, as they never kill prey from choice, but in general 

 devour only such animals as are either dying, or are found dead and 

 putrid. Their sense of smelling is so exquisite, that they are able to 

 scent a dead body at the distance of many miles. " They are (says 

 Mr. Pennant) greedy and voracious to a proverb; and not timid, for 

 they prey in the midst of cities, undaunted by mankind." After some 

 of the battles in the East, where vast slaughter takes place, of 

 Elephants, Horses, and men, voracious animals crowd to the field from 

 all quarters, and of these, Jackals, Hyaenas, and Vultures, are the 

 chief. Even in the places where the last are otherwise seldom 

 observed, the plain will on such occasions be found covered with them. 

 Vast multitudes will be s^en in the air, descending from every side, 



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