VULTURES, HAWKS and OWLS. Order XII. RAPTORES 
AMERICAN VULTURES. Family CATHARTIDAE 
Vultures are peculiarly formed birds of prey, having a bare head and neck, a 
lengthened bill strongly hooked at the end for tearing flesh, and long, strong, 
broad wings upon which they float in the air for hours at a time without any 
visible flapping. They are scavangers and do great service to mankind by de- 
vouring dead animal matter, that, if allowed to remain, would soon taint the 
atmosphere. Their eyesight and sense of smell is very acute. They do not, 
except in very unusual cases, capture their prey, but feed upon that which has 
been killed or died of disease. 
Ashy gray 
3 24. California Vulture. Gymnogyps calif ornianus. 
Range. — Apparently now restricted to the coast ranges of California, casually 
inland to Arizona, and formerly to British Columbia. 
This large bird, which weighs about 20 pounds, measures about 4 feet in 
length, and has an expanse of wings of about 10 feet. Its plumage is blackish 
with lengthened lanceolate feathers about the neck, and with the greater wing 
coverts broadly tipped with grayish white (in very old birds). The birds are 
very rare in their restricted range and are becoming scarcer each year, owing to 
their being shot and their nests robbed. While the eggs are very rarely found 
and only secured at a great risk, they are not as unobtainable as many suppose, 
as may be seen from the fact that one private collection contains no less than 
six perfect specimens of the eggs and as many mounted birds. These birds lay 
but a single egg, placing it generally in caves or recesses in the face of cliffs, 
hundreds of feet from the ground, and often in inaccessable locations. The eggs 
are of an ashy gray color and measure about 4.45 x 1.55. 
198 
