CALIFORNIAN VULTURE. 241 



tiring, probably to the mountains, about the end of August. It is 

 particularly attached to the vicinity of cascades and falls, being at- 

 tracted by the dead salmon which strew the shores in such places. 

 The salmon, in their attempts to leap over the obstruction, become ex- 

 hausted, and are cast up on the beaches in great numbers. Thither, 

 therefore, resort all the unclean birds of the country, such as the pre- 

 sent species, the Turkey Buzzard, and the Raven. The Californian 

 Vulture cannot, however, be called a plentiful species, as even in the 

 situations mentioned it is rare to see more than two or three at a time, 

 and these so shy as not to allow an approach to within one hundred 

 yards, unless by stratagem. Although I have frequently seen this bird 

 I have never heard it utter any sound. The eggs I have never seen, 

 nor have I had any account of them that I could depend upon." 



In a former letter you ask me, " What is the colour of the eyes ? 

 Do they attack living animals ? Do they feed on reptiles, fishes, or 

 what .'' Where do they roost ? Do they carry the tail upwards while 

 walking.? Are they pugnacious ? What is their manner of flight, &c 2" 

 The colour of the eye is dark hazel. I have never heard of their at- 

 tacking living animals. Their food while on the Columbia is fish al- 

 most exclusively, as in the neighbourhood of the rapids and falls it is 

 always in abundance ; they also, like other Vultures, feed on dead ani- 

 mals. I once saw two near Fort Vancouver feeding on the carcass of a 

 pig that had died. I have not seen them at roost. In walking they 

 resemble a Turkey, strutting over the groimd with great dignity ; but 

 this dignity is occasionally lost sight of, especially when two are striving 

 to reach a dead fish, which has just been cast on the shore ; the state- 

 ly walk then degenerates into a clumsy sort of hopping canter, which 

 is any thing but graceful. When about to rise, they always hop or 

 run for several yards, in order to give an impetus to their heavy body, 

 in this resembling the Condor of South America, whose well known 

 habit furnishes the natives with an easy mode of capturing him by 

 means of a narrow pen, in which a dead carcass has been deposited. 

 If I should return to the Columbia, I will try this method of taking 

 the Vulture, as I am satisfied that it would be successful." 



Mr Douglas has published the following account of it in the fourth 



volume of the Zoological Journal : — " The length of this bird is 56 



inches ; the measure round the body 40 inches. Weight 25 to 36 



pounds. Beak 3J inches long, bright glossy yellow. Head 9 inches 



VOL. v. a 



