264 BACKBONED ANIMALS. 
VALUE.—As game. Pigeon-oil is used by Indians, and the birds 
do a great work in dispersing seeds. After the Dutch Government at 
the Moluccas destroyed all the nutmeg-trees on all the islands except 
Great Banda, they were obliged to send a yearly commission to destroy 
those that grew from nutmeg-seeds transported there in the crops of 
the fruit-pigeons (Carpophaga concinna), Coffee-seeds and many oth- 
ers are in this way carried from place to place. 
Note.—The Feejee pigeons (Chrysena) have remarkable feathers 
upon the breast and neck. The barbs are devoid of barbules, having 
instead small swellings arranged along at intervals, giving the plumage 
a remarkably loose appearance. 
Order IX. Birds of Prey (Rapiores). General Char- 
acteristics.—The birds of this order correspond in their 
habits to the carnivorous mammals. They prey upon 
animals dead or alive, and for the purpose have hooked 
bills, and powerful claws. 
In the Vultures (Cathartide), the head and part of 
the neck is bare, 
and the wings pow- 
erful. The Califor- 
nia condor (Pseudo- 
gryphus California- 
nus) rivals the great 
condor of the Andes 
in size, and four of 
them have been seen 
to drag a young 
grizzly bear several 
hundred feet. Their 
total length is about 
fifty inches, and the 
spread of wings 
‘ nine feet. They 
Fic, 298,—Turkey buzzard. soar high and sight 
their food, which 
consists of dead animals, from great distances, The nest, 
