1877.] A Few Words about Scavengers. 131 
and other evidences found in the cave deposits in England and 
in many other parts of Europe. 
If we study the birds we find among them, also, some kinds 
whose office is that of scavengers. Rather than pursue and 
capture living prey, these prefer to feed upon dead animals, and 
upon these they gorge themselves, often eating far more than 
they need; and thus they too convert noxious substances into 
their own tissues. Preéminent among the bird-scavengers are 
(Fre. 18.) ALLIGATOR (ALLIGATOR MISSISSIPPIENSIS). 
the vultures (Figure 17), including the condor and others, which 
of all the flesh-eating birds are the least adapted for capturing 
living prey, and which by their bare heads and bare necks are 
the best fitted for feeding upon carrion, which forms so large a 
part of their food. It should be added here, however, that while 
(Fie. 19.) STURGEON (ACIPENSER OXYRHYNCHUS). 
and other animals, but has the reputation of sometimes carrying 
off an infant child. 
Reptiles, too, furnish us with examples of scavengers. Al- 
though many turtles, and the alligators (Figure 18), crocodiles, 
and gavials, are exceedingly rapacious, they are also among the, 
Prominent scavengers, eagerly feeding upon the dead animals 
Which they find in the streams which they inhabit. 
N or are fishes without a representation of scavengers. Some 
kinds, as certain of the sharks, combine the most rapacious with 
Scavenger characteristics. The sturgeons (Figure 19) are gen- 
