TUE VULTURE. 



Condor. 



Turkey Vulture. 



Turkey Vulture, or Turkey Buzzard. 



The King Vulture is a native of South America, seldom if ever being seen north of Florida. Travellers 

 relate that this species keeps the other Vultures under subjection, and does not suffer them to approach a 

 dead animal until he has completely satisfied his own appetite, which is certainly none of the smallest. 



The Turkey Vulture, or Turkey Buzzard, as it is sometimes called, inhabits a vast range of territory in 

 the warmer parts of the American continent, but in the northern and middle states of the Union it is par- 

 tially migratory, the greater part retiring to the south on trie approach of cold weather. In Mr. Darwin's 

 Journal we read that " the Turkey Buzzard is a solitary bird, or at most, goes in pairs. It may at once be 

 recognized from a long distance by its lofty soaring, and most elegant flight. It is well known to be a true 

 carrion-feeder." This bird is abundantly found in Jamaica, where it goes by the name of the John 

 Crow Vulture. It is there protected by law, every person who kills one within a certain distance of the 

 large towns being fined twenty-five dollars. Much contention has arisen between certain naturalists with 

 respect to (he olfactory powers possessed by this bird. Mr. Gosse, in his volume, says, " Those who 

 ascribe the power which the Vulture possesses of discerning from a distance its carrion food, to the sense 

 of seeing or the sense of smelling, exclusively, appear to me to be both in error. It is the two senses, 

 exerted sometimes singly, bat generally unitedly, which give the facility which it possesses of tracing its 

 appropriate food from far distances." The Turkey Vulture is two feet and a half in length, and with 

 wings extended upwards of six feet in breadth. The bill from the corner of the mouth is almost two 

 inches and a half long, of a dark horn color for upward of an inch from the tip of the uostril. 



Secretary Bird, devouring; a Snake. 



King Vulture. 



Griffon Vulture, carrying off a Shako 



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