10 CALIFORNIAN VULTURE. 



The elegant figure of the Condor given by 

 Monsieur Humboldt is copied into the present 

 work, in order that nothing might be wanting for 

 as full an elucidation of this interesting species as 

 could be obtained from modern authors. The 

 reader will observe that the figures of the preserved 

 specimen from the Leverian Museum leave no 

 room to doubt the identity of the bird. With 

 respect to the measures attributed by the preparer 

 of those specimens, I have hinted above that I 

 cannot but think them something, though perhaps 

 not very much exaggerated. The unfortunate 

 dispersion of that celebrated collection, which had 

 so long done honour to England, makes it impos- 

 sible to ascertain the size by fresh admeasurement, 

 It is said that both specimens were purchased for 

 the Emperor of Austria, and I recommend their 

 more complete investigation to the naturalists of 

 Vienna. 



CALIFORNIA^ VULTURE. 



Vultur Californianus. V. niger, rosiro albido, capite colloquc 

 denudatis pallidis, torquis pectorisque plu?nis lanceolatis . 



Black Vulture, with whitish beak; the head and neck un- 

 feathered and of a pale colour ; the plumes of the collar and 

 breast lanceolate. Naturalist's Miscellany, vol. Q. pi. 301. 



This species was first described by myself in the 

 9th volume of the Naturalist's Miscellany. It is 



