THE KITES AND VULTURES 



233 



not so highly developed as the hawks, the vult- 

 ures serve a most useful purpose in the economy 

 of Nature, and exhibit some traits that are really 

 wonderful. The broad-minded student will not 

 turn from these birds with aversion merely be- 



seen the Common Turkey Vulture 1 sailing 

 and circling on wide-spread but motionless pin- 

 ions, so high in the heavens that its distance 

 from the earth seemed to be two miles or more. 

 Clearly, these aerial promenades, often con- 



cause their heads are bare, and they feed on dead tinned until the observer is weary of watchil 



Photographed by E. P. Keller, National Zoological Park. 



CALIFORNIA VULTURE. 



food. Their heads are naked for professional 

 reasons. 



Two things about vultures are particularly 

 striking. One is the enormous heights to which 

 they soar, the other is their marvellous quick- 

 ness in discovering the body of a dead animal. 

 Many times, in clear summer weather, I have 



them, are taken for pleasure. One great circle 

 succeeds another in a series that seems unend- 

 ing, but all the while the wings are as motion- 

 less as if wired in position. On such occasions, 

 even a homely and unlovely Buzzard can become 



1 Ca-thar'tes au'ra. Average length, about 29 

 inches. 



