CATHARTIDA, —- CLII. 255 
34. T. 23. Tropical America, N. to Va.; common 8. (Lat., 
like a sparrow.) 
Orver XLI. RAPTORES. (Tue Birps or Prey.) 
Bill powerful, cered at base, strongly hooked at the end. Feet 
never zygodactyle; fourth toe sometimes versatile; hind toe de- 
veloped, elevated or not ; claws very strong in typical forms, weak 
in the vultures; tibia, and often tarsus, feathered. Primaries 10; 
tail feathers usually 12. Altricial, but young downy at birth. 
Carnivorous birds, often of large size and great strength, found in 
every part of the world. Some of them feed upon carrion, some of 
the smaller on insects, some on reptiles or fishes, the most of them 
on mammals and birds which are captured in open warfare. (Lat., 
raptor, robber.) 
Families of Raptores. 
a. Head entirely naked (downy in young); hind toe short, elevated; claws 
small; inner toe somewhat webbed; nostril longitudinal. 
CaTHARTID&, 152. 
aa, Head nearly or quite fully feathered; hind toe not elevated, its claw large 
and strong, like the others; inner toe not webbed; nostrils vertical or 
roundish. 
o, Eyes lateral, not surrounded by a disk of radiating feathers; cere ex- 
posed; outer toe not reversible (except in Pandion). 
Fatconip#, 153. 
ob. Eyes directed forward, surrounded by disks of radiating feathers; cere 
concealed by: bristly feathers; outer toe reversible. 
c. Facial disk sub-triangular; middle claw pectinate.. SrrRicIDa, 154. 
cc. Facial disk sub-circular, middle claw not serrate. . BuBoNIDs, 155. 
Famity CLI] CATHARTIDA. (Tor New Worip 
VULTURES.) 
Head and part of neck bare. Eyes lateral; ears small. Bill 
lengthened, weak and but little hooked; nostrils perforate. Wings 
very long and strong, giving a strength and grace of flight which 
few birds possess. Hind toe short, and elevated; front toes long, 
somewhat webbed, with rather weak and straightish claws. Large 
turkey-like raptores, without the strength and spirit of the hawks 
and owls; “voracious and indiscriminate gormandizers of carrion 
and animal refuse of all sorts, hence efficient and almost indispensa- 
ble scavengers in the warm countries where they abound.” (Coues.) 
The vultures are voiceless. On the ground they walk rather clum- 
sily. When disturbed they eject the fetid contents of their capacious 
crops. Two species, the Condor and the California Vulture, are 
among the largest birds of flight in the world. All are American, 
the Old World Vultures (Vulturine) being vulture-like hawks. 
Genera 5; species 6 or 8. 
