34 CATHARTES— TURKEY BUZZARD— PERCNOPTERUS. 



"Just before turning off from the beach, we came to the recent 

 carcass of a mule, upon which seven large Condors and a crowd 

 of buzzards were feasting. They allowed us to approach so 

 near that, had we been provided with arms, we might have shot 

 them as they arose slowly on the wing. These birds frequently 

 destroy small animals, They sometimes form a circle around a 

 sheep, or a goat, and, spreading out their wings approach till they 

 strike theii' prey, and then falling upon it, devour the body, even 

 to the bones. In the country they are caught in the following 

 manner. A pen is formed of high palisadoes driven into the 

 ground, and a fresh carcass placed in the centre. It is left alone. 

 In a short time, the Condors, who scent their food for many miles, 

 descend into it, and while feasting, the peones, (labouring men in 

 Chile are so called) armed with clubs, and the body and limbs 

 well protected with hide, enter the enclosure and commence the 

 work of destruction. These birds cannot rise ^vithout running 

 thirty or forty yards, which the limits of the pen will not allow, 

 and they are clubbed to death, not however, without making 

 resistance, and occasionally inflicting very severe wounds on 

 their pursuers." — Three Years in the Pacific. 



20. The Cathartes, which have no caruncles on the headj 

 and whose nares are longitudinal and oval, are also found in 

 America ; there is one species [Cathartes Vulturinus, also called 

 Vultiir Calif orniamis,) which approaches to the Condor in size, 

 and has wings, even longer, in proportion. The tarsi are par- 

 tially covered by the feathers of the legs. It inhabits California. 

 [ The Turkey Buzzard, or Gallinaza, — Vultur aura, — 

 Cathartes aura, — is of a bluish black colour, and as large as 

 a cock. It is common in warm parts of the United States, and 

 is occasionally seen as far north as New Jersey. It feeds upon 

 carrion and filth, but never attacks living animals, except when 

 helpless and unable to defend themselves. This bird is very 

 common in Peruvian towns, w-here it acts the part of scavenger, 

 and is for this reason protected b}^ law,] 



9A, The Perc^'opteri, {Plate o, fig. 4.) which are distinguished 

 from all the preceding by their feathered neck and long, slender 

 beak, are of moderate size, and do not possess nearly so much 

 strength as the other Vultures ; but they attack with greater 

 avidity carrion and all sorts of filth which attract them from a 

 distance ; and they do not disdain excrement itself. 



22. The Percnopterus of Egypt, (Pharaoh's Bird,)— Vultur 

 percnopterns, or Vultur kucocephalus, or Vultur fuscus, — is of 



20. What are t!ie Cathartes? Where are they found ? 



21. How are the Percnopteri distinguished? What are their habits ? 



22. What is Pharaoh's bird ? Where is it found ? What are its habits ? 



