310 FOREIGN BIRDS. 



The Scansors, chief Parrots, were dissonant loud; 

 Many Goat-suckers' ( z ) notes, too, were heard from 

 the crowd. 



colour, splashed with chocolate, mingled with black ; they are 

 in length two inches and three quarters, breadth two inches. 

 This is a peaceable and harmless bird, never offering violence to 

 any living animal; in the southern states of North America, from 

 their usefulness, they are protected by a law which imposes a 

 fine on those who wilfully deprive them of life. 



The Cristatus, or Crested-Vulture, has the body blackish 

 red; head crested; breast rufous ; smaller than the last, but ex- 

 tremely active and voracious; feeds on hares, rabbits, foxes, 

 fawns, and fish ; found in some parts of Europe. 



The Percnopterus, Aquiline-Vulture, or Pharoah's-Chicken, 

 has the plumage white, except the quill feathers, which are 

 black; the edges hoary; length two feet. Another variety, 

 with the body reddish-ash, spotted with brown ; inhabits Egypt, 

 Syria, and Persia. It is encomaged in Cairo to devour dead 

 carcasses ; and in Palestine to destroy the mice which swarm in 

 the fields. In Egypt it was formerly a capital crime to destroy 

 one of these birds. 



" The place is tainted — and behold 

 The Vulture hovers yonder, and his scream 

 Chides us that still we scare him from his banquet." 



Southey's Thalaba, vol. i. page 105. 



( 2 ) Order, Passfres, (Linn.) Goatsucker, tiie European, 

 the Vikgian, the Grand, Sec. 



The genus Caprimulgus, (Linn.) or Goat-sucker, com- 

 prehends about forty species, chiefly inhabitants of America; 

 one the Caprimulgus Europaus, or European Goat-sucker, 

 is found in this country. The characteristics of the tribe are, 

 bill short, hooked at the end ; upper mandible beset with a row 



