ACCIPITRES, 



1G5 



The Fulvous Vulture (F. fulvus, 

 Gtii.) is the most widely-diffused spe- 

 cies, inhabiting; the mountainous parts 

 of the whole ancient contiuent. Its 

 bOQi surpasses in size that of a Swan 

 [possibly in the instance of some fe- 

 iruilcs. This bird has been errone- 

 jinslv stated to have fourteen tail- 

 ?>qitiers.'' The greater number of the 

 Kttiius possess similar characters.] 



The Dusky Vulture {V. cinereus, 



(Jm.)~As widely distributed as the 



preceding- [but less numerously], and 



&ini larmier: it frequently attacks liv- 



intc animals. [This species exemplifies 



lite subgenus G]/ps of Savigny : hav- 



MiiC me beak more sharply pointed. 



She nostrils almost round, and the 



fiead partially clothed with feathers. 



Ihe Vultures generally, indeed, have 



the head and neck feathered when 



voung, like the Turkey and other 



birds which have baUl heads in a state 



ot maturity : the immature V. Augo- 



lensis, Gm., is doubtfully figured by 



Bennett as a species of Caracara {Po- 



lyborus? hvpoleucoA-) ; but the adults 



of of that species continue to have those 

 ed ^ , ^ 



parts invested.] 



The Oricou Vulture ( V. auricularis, Daud.), an African species, [probably the largest of the true Vultures,] has 

 a longitudinal fleshy crest on each side of the neck, above the ear, [a character which likewise occurs, less promi- 

 nently, in one or two others]. 



America produces Vultures remarkable for the caruncles -u'hich surmount the merahrane at the base 

 of the beak ; the latter is as large as in the preceding, but the nostrils are oval and longitudinal. 

 Tliey arc 



The Condors {Sarcoramphus, Dumeril), — 



[A very distinct genus, remarkable for having no muscles attached to the trachea, in consequence of 

 which they are necessarily deprived of voice, emitting no sound beyond a weak snorting. Tlieir hind 

 toe is shorter than in other Accipitres.'] 



The King Condor ( T'. papa, Lm}.— Size of a Goose. The naked parts of the head and neck vividly coloured, and 

 the caruncle denticulated like the comb of a cock. It inhabits the Pampas and other hot parts of South America. 

 This species is termed the King of the Vultures, from the Gallinazos giving jdace to it, through fear, whenever it 

 settles upon a carcase which they had begun to devour. 



The Great Condor (F. ^rvj9/;»5, Lin.) ; the male of which, in addition to his superior carunclef, has another 

 under the beak, like the cock. The female differs in colour, and is without the caruncles. This bird has been 

 rendered famous by exaggerated reports of its size : it is little larger than the Beardetl Griffin, which its niaauerg 

 resemble. It inhabits the most elevated regions of the Andes, and flies higher tliajj ttcy ctb^er hv'O^ 



The Gallinazos {Cathartes, Cuv.) — 

 Have the beak of the Condors, that is to say, large, "with longitudinal oval nostriis, htirt ni5 f.tVhy crtst : 

 their head and neck are without feathers ; [plumage nearly or whoUy black : the sternum emarginated 

 inward of the ordinary foramen. All the species are from America.] 



The Great Gallinazo (T, californianus:, Shaw), — api)roache8 the large Condor in size, with proportionally longer 

 wings. [From the western coast of North America.] 



"WiQ Turkeii Buzzard of \\\& Anglo-Americans (T. ai^ra, Lin.)— Little larger than a fowl. [There appeai" to be 

 others, hitherto imperfectly determined.] 



The Neophrons {Neophron, Cuv.) — 



Have a long and slender beak, rather tumid above its curvature; the nostrils oval and longitudinal, 



t n i3 proper to remark thiit tlie rijcid L'aTtilft|,n(iouH crest of the 



'o species of bird has more than twelve tnil-fenthera (inclui.HiiL' 

 iipy^'iiils) till we arrive at ihe Poultry, Utwci:, the ^-JlfiJur^/, 

 iLioiicil in (lie preeediiii,' uole, — which possesses eii;litcei\ niiglit 

 i iliiirHLtcr alone linve been refeircd to ics proper Matioii. 



irlt thiit tlie ri^id caTtilft|,n(ii 

 s no analogy, anatomically. 



