14 
Two or three stragglers from Lower California have been 
taken in this county. 
Order RAPTORES. Birds of Prey. 
Family CATHARTIDA. Vultures. 
A family of very large birds, of general distribution, but in 
most cases found sparingly. The food of most species is exclusively 
carrion and the birds are very useful as scavengers and should 
be rigidly protected. 
133. CALIFORNIA VULTURE. CALIFORNIA CONDOR. 
Gymnogyps californianus. 
Fairly common when the country was first settled by Ameri- 
cans. When the sheep industry was at its height the shepherds 
poisoned many carcasses of dead sheep to lessen the numbers of 
troublesome coyotes. Vultures also ate the carcasses and were 
poisoned, with the result that Vultures became very scarce. Ir- 
responsible hunters also shot every large bird that came near and 
this magnificent and useful Vulture was nearly exterminated. A 
state law now imposes a heavy penalty for killing a Vulture and 
under this protection the species is slowly increasing in numbers. 
This species should not be called a Condor, as the true Condor is 
a South American bird of another genus. 
1384, TURKEY VULTURE. TURKEY BUZZARD. 
Cathartes aura septentrionalis. 
Common spring, summer and fall residents, less common in 
winter. Occasionally seen gathered in flocks about some carcass. 
Very beneficial. and should never be killed. 
Family FALCONIDAS. Hawks, etc. 
Mostly large, powerful birds, feeding on mammals, birds or 
fish killed by themselves; or insects in the case of some of the 
smaller or more sluggish species. A few species are injurious 
through capturing poultry or game birds, but the majority prey 
on mice or other noxious animals and should be thoroughly pro- 
tected. The general practice of shooting all hawks and owls can- 
not be too strongly condemned. Kill no predaceous bird not 
positively known to be harmful. 
185. WHITE-TAILED KITE. Elanus leucurus. 
Formerly occasional residents, now very rare or completely ex- 
terminated in this county. The food is mice, lizards, snakes, 
grasshoppers, etc. 
136. MARSH HAWK. Circus hudgonius. 
Common residents of the valleys, where they hunt over mead- 
ows, grassy valleys and marshes. They prey on meadow mice al- 
most exclusively. 
187. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. Accipeter velox. 
Rather common fall, winter and spring residents. This active 
little Hawk is the terror of small birds, on which it principally 
preys, but it catches some poultry and many quail. It is able 
