CATIIAirniJ^ , AMERICAN VULTURES. 



221 



The American vultures differ in so many essential respects from those of the 

 Old World, that they should miquestionably rank as a separate family, whatever 

 may be the propriety of uniting the others with the Falconidce. In a certain sense, 

 they represent the gallinaceous type of structure ; our species of Cathartes, for 

 instance, bear a curious superficial resemblance to a turkey. Thej' lack the strength 

 and spirit of typical Raptores, and rarely attack animals capable of offering resist- 

 ance ; they are voracious and indiscriminate gormandizers of carrion and animal 

 refuse of all sorts- — efficient and almost indispensable scavengers in the warm 

 countries where they abound. Thc}' are uncleanly in their mode of feeding ; the 

 nature of their food renders them ill-scented, and wdien disturbed they eject the 

 fa3tid contents of the crop. Although not truly gregarious, they assemble in multi- 

 tudes where food is plenty, and some species breed in communities. When gorged, 



Fig. IH. Caliroruian Vulture. » 



they appear heavy and indisposed to exertion, usually passing the period of diges- 

 tion motionless, in a listless attitude, with the wings half-spread. But they spend 

 most of the time on wing, circling high in the air ; their flight is easy and graceful 

 in the extreme, and capable of being indeflnitelj- protracted. On the ground, they 

 habitually walk instead of progressing by leaps. Possessing no vocal apparatus, 

 the vultures are almost mute, emitting only a weak hissing sound. The plumage in 

 Cathartes is sombre and unvaried ; its changes are slight ; the sexes are alike in 

 color ; the $ is not larger than the ^J . The famous condor of the Andes, Sarcor. 

 hamplms (jryplms, the king vulture, 8. papa, and the following species of Cathartes, 

 with their one or two South American analogues, compose the familj'. 



