126 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 
which, like all the rest, is closely connected with the habits 
of the birds. Thus it has been pointed out that in other 
groups a falling off or thinning of the feathers is the fre- 
quent result of feeding upon flesh especially when in a state 
of decay. The bareness of these parts in the Vultures ena- 
bles them morever to burrow in the putrid carcasses on which 
they prey without risk of soiling their plumage. 
Their largely extended nostrils and the great internal 
developement of these organs would seem to be of manifest 
use in guiding the Vultures to their prey, which they are 
generally believed to scent from an immense distance. It 
has, however, been lately maintained by a most acute obser- 
ver of the habits of birds, Mr. Audubon, that this belief, 
which has been entertained from the earliest antiquity, is 
founded in error, and that the Vultures are directed to their 
prey by sight alone, the lofty pitch at which they fly and 
the surpassing excellence of their vision enabling them to 
detect it at an almost inconceivable distance. Several of 
the experiments brought forward by that gentleman in sup- 
port of his hypothesis, appear at first sight almost decisive 
of the question; but we cannot consent to abandon the re- 
ceived opinion, corroborated as it is to the fullest extent by 
the anatomical structure of the organs of smell, until repeated 
experiments shall have placed the fact beyond the possi- 
bility of doubt. 
It is almost unnecessary to point out the great utility of 
the strong deep curved bill of most of the Vultures in tear- 
ing to pieces the carcasses on which they feed, and consign- 
ing them in large masses to their maws. The nakedness of 
their legs may be regarded as dependent on the same causes 
and serving the same purposes as that of their heads and 
necks. But the character which has the strongest influence 
on their economy must be sought for in the structure of their 
claws. While the Falcons are enabled by means of their 
strongly curved, sharp-pointed, and highly retractile talons, 
to seize their victims with an irresistible grasp and to con- 
vey them through the air, the Vultures are restricted by the 
obtuseness of those organs, their want of the necessary cur- 
vature, and the almost total absence of retractility, to the 
use of their beaks alone in the seizure of their prey, which 
they are quite incapable of transporting with them in their 
flight, and are consequently compelled to devour upon the 
spot. It is to this simple modification in structure that they 
are chiefly indebted for that propensity for preying upon 
carrion, which has obtained for them all the opprobrious 
epithets that stigmatize them throughout the world. 
The Vulture family, which formed but a single genus in 
the Linnaean classification, has since been divided into seve- 
ral groups, some of which appear to us to be still capable, 
and deserving also, of further subdivision. We have already 
spoken of the South American group, of which the Condor 
furnishes the most conspicuous example; and we have now 
to turn our attention to another section, almost equally typi- 
cal in the family, the representatives of which are scattered 
over the three divisions of the Old Continent. It is in this 
section more particularly that we conceive a further separa- 
tion of species both practicable and desirable. M. Savigny 
has already effected it to a certain extent by the establish- 
ment of two well marked genera for the reception of the two 
European species; and Mr. Vigors has pointed out the pro- 
priety of separating the Angola Vulture of Pennant from the 
rest of the group. To these three strongly marked forms 
we would add the bird which furnishes the subject of the 
next following article as the type of a fourth, with which 
we doubt not that the Pondicherry Vulture of Latham would 
form a natural association. Of the remaining species we 
will not venture to speak, not having yet enjoyed the oppor- 
tunity of examining them in nature. 
The essential characters of the entire section consist, in 
addition to all the characteristic marks of the family, in the 
almost total want of feathers on the head and neck; in the 
position of the eyes on a level with the general surface of 
the head; in the prominence of the crop, which is covered 
by a naked and highly extensible portion of skin; in the 
transverse position of the nostrils at the base of a strong beak 
not surmounted by a fleshy caruncle; in the exposure of 
their auditory openings, which have no elevated margin; in 
the great strength of their legs; the comparative weakness 
of their blunt and unretractile claws; and the shortness of 
their first quill-feather, which is of equal length with the 
sixth, the third and fourth being the longest of the series. 
To these may be added the usually great elongation of their 
necks; the fleshy consistence of their tongues; the prolonga- 
tion of the middle toe, which is united to the outer by a 
membranous expansion at the base, but quite distinct from 
the inner, the latter being the shortest of the three and about 
equal in length to the posterior or thumb; and the length of 
the wings, which extend when closed beyond the extremity 
of the tail. The wings are, however, rarely brought close 
to the body, even when the bird is completely at rest; and 
this circumstance, together with the somewhat crouching 
posture in which the Vultures are compelled, by their defi- 
ciency in the power of grasping, to sustain themselves, has 
been frequently adverted to as affording a striking contrast 
with the bold, upright, and collected bearing of the Eagles. 
In subdividing the European Vultures, M. Savigny has 
characterized that which forms the subject of the present 
article by its naked transversely elongated and lunulate nos- 
trils; its tongue fringed with sharp points; and its tail com- 
posed of fourteen feathers. Its head and neck are covered 
with a short, thick, white down, which is wanting only at 
the lower part in front corresponding with the situation of 
