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KING VULTURE. -Sarcorhamphv^ Papa, 



neighbouring trees. The king of the Vultures came too, and I observed that none of the 

 common ones seemed inclined to begin bi'eakfast until his majesty had finished. When 

 he had consumed as much snake as nature informed him would do him good, he retired 

 to the top of a high mora-tree, and then all the common Vultures fell to and made a 

 hearty meal." 



The King Vulture is a native of tropical America, and is most common near the 

 equator, though it is found as far as the thirtieth degree of south latitude, and the thirty- 

 second of north latitude. Peru, Brazil, Guiana, Paraguay, and Mexico are the chosen 

 residences of this fine species. It is a forest-loving bird, caring nothing for the lofty home of 

 the condor, but taking up its residence upon the low and heavily-wooded regions, in close 

 proximity to swampy and marshy places, where it is most likely to find abundance of 

 dead and putrefying animal substances. Its nest, or rather the spot on which it 

 deposits its eggs, is within the hollow of some decaying tree. The eggs are two in 

 number. 



In its adult state the King Viilture is a most gorgeously decorated bird, thongh 

 its general aspect and the whole expression of its demeanour are rather repulsive 



