CLASS II. AYES: 
ORDER 1. RAPTORES. 
59 
of Plants, at Paris, which the writer of this has often witnessed — on which occasion these crea- 
tures, usually dozing on their perch, are suddenly roused to demoniac frenzy, aud scream and 
fight and gorge themselves with a voracity that seems like madness — is horrible beyond description. 
The condor has its chosen home in the most elevated peaks of the Andes ; but it is also seen 
in the Cordilleras of Central America and Mexico, and it is said also in the southern part of the 
Rocky Mountain range. It makes no nest, but deposits its eggs upon the naked rock ; these are 
wholly white, and three or four inches in length. It is said that the female remains with her 
brood for a year; the young have no feathers; the body, for several months, is covered only with 
.. very fine down or whitish frizzled hair, which resembles that of young owls. This down dis- 
figures the young bird so much that in this state it appears almost as large as an adult. 
Genus CATHARTES : Cathartes. — This genus includes several species, all American, three of 
them found within the boundaries of the United States. That which is most familiarly known 
is the TuBKEY-BuzzARD or Turkey- Vtjltuee, 0. aura — the Vultur aura of Wilson — which ex- 
tends from the southern boundary of New York to the West Indies and South America, being 
abundant in the warm regions and rare in the northern portions of its range. In the Middle 
States it is partially migratory, the greater part retiring to the south on the approach of cold 
weather. But numbers remain all the winter in Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey, particu- 
larly in the vicinity of the large rivers and the ocean, which afford a supply of food at all seasons. 
In New J ersey it hatches in May, the deep recesses of the solitary swamps of that state affording 
situations weir suited to the purpose. The female is at no pains to form a nest with materials; 
but, having chosen a suitable place, which is either a truncated hollow tree, an excavated stump, 
or log, she lays on the rotten wood from two to four eggs, of a dull, dirty white, or pale cream 
color, splashed all over with chocolate, mingled with blackish touches, the blotches largest and 
thickest toward the great end ; the form something like the egg of a goose, but blunter at the 
small end ; length two inches and three-quarters. The male watches often while the female is 
sitting, and, if not disturbed, they will occupy the same breeding-place for several years. The 
young are clothed with a whitish down similar to that which covers young goslings. If any per- 
son approach the nest, and attempt to handle them, they will immediately vomit such ofi'ensive 
matter as to compel the intruder to a precipitate retreat. This species are gregarious, peaceable, 
and harmless, never oftering any violence to a live animal, or depriving the husbandman of his 
stock. Hence, though in consequence of their filthy habits they are not beloved, they are respected 
and tolerated for their usefulness where they are most needed. They generally roost at night in 
flocks on the limbs of large trees, and they may be seen on a summer morning spreading out their 
wings to the rising sun, and remaining in that posture for a considerable time. 
These birds, unless when rising from the earth, seldom flap their wings, but sweep along in 
ogees, and dipping and rising lines, and move with great rapidity. They are often seen in com- 
panies, soaring at an immense height, particularly previous to a thunder-storm. Their wings are 
not spread horizontally, but form a slight angle with the body upward, the tips having an upward 
curve. Their sight is astonishingly acute, and they never fail to discover carrion, even when at 
the distance of several miles from it. When once they have found a carcass, if not molested they 
will not leave the place until the whole is devoured. At such times they eat so immoderately 
that frequently they are incapable of rising, and may be caught without much difiiculty ; but few 
that are acquainted with them will have the temerity to undertake the task. A man in the state 
of Delaware, a few years since, observing some turkey-buzzards regaling themselves upon the car- 
cass of a horse which was in a highly putrid state, conceived the design of making a captive of 
one, to take home for the amusement of his children. He cautiously approached, and, springing 
upon the unsuspicious group, grasped a fine, plump fellow in his arms, and was bearing off his 
prize in triumph, when lo ! the indignant vulture disgorged such a torrent of filth in the face of 
our hero, that it produced all the efl'ects of the most powerful emetic, and forever cured him of 
his inclination for turkey-buzzards. 
" The vulture," adds Wilson, from whom we have chiefly taken the preceding account, " is in- 
cluded in the catalogue of those fowls declared unclean and an abomination by the Levitical law, 
and which the Israelites were interdicted eating. We presume that this prohibition was relig- 
