144 POPULAR OFFICIAL GUIDE. 



is clad in royal robes, and color-decked to match. Its range 

 extends from Mexico and Central America to Trinidad and 

 Brazil. The visitor should not fail to see this gorgeously 

 caparisoned body of white, cream-yellow and black, and 

 head of orange, purple and crimson. 



Black Vulture, (Catharista urubu). — These ill-favored but 

 very useful birds are quite abundant, and even semi-domes- 

 ticated, in some of our southern cities. This is due to the 

 protection accorded them, because of their valuable services 

 as scavengers. They are said to devour every particle of 

 exposed organic refuse, and in a warm climate these services 

 are of more value than we in the north can realize. 



The Yellow-Headed Vulture, (Cathartes urobitinga), of 

 northern South America, is a much handsomer bird than 

 its two preceding relatives. It has much the same feeding 

 habits, but is very rare and delicate in captivity. 



The California Condor, (Gymiwgyps calif omianus). — This 

 is one of the rarest, and to all Americans the most interest- 

 ing, bird of prey in the Park. The species is confined to a 

 very small area in the rugged mountains of southern and 

 lower California, and beyond all doubt, the skin-collecting 

 ornithologists will exterminate it within the next twenty 

 years, or less. 



The Griffon Vulture, (Gyps pulvus), and the Kolbe Vul- 

 ture, (G. kc'lbi), are Old World hirds and although more 

 closely related to the eagles than to the vultures of the New 

 "World, resemble the latter in general habits. 



Differing strongly from its congeners in general appear- 

 ance, is the Eared Vulture, (0 'to gyps auricularis) . This rare 

 bird is a native of North Africa, where it feeds on such car- 

 rion as it is able to find. Its bare, wrinkled head and neck 

 and great bill give it a decidedly gruesome appearance. 



The Red-Tailed Hawk, (Butco borealis) .—The "Hen 

 Hawk," or "Chicken Hawk," is one of our commonest birds 

 of prey. It hardly merits its common name, as its favorite 

 food is mice and other small mammals. This is the hawk 

 seen, in the fall of the year, going south in flocks, sometimes 

 of one hundred or more. 



One of the most splendid members of the collection is the 

 Harpy Eagle, (Thrasaetus harpyia), of South America. The 

 remarkably large legs and claws indicate the great strength 

 which enables the bird to prey upon sloths, monkeys, and 

 other fairly large animals. 



