clxxvi Cathabtids!. BIBDS. Cathabtid^:. 
iniel-iiir, and vvliile lie lield tlie li^li with one talon, 
struck out, guanhint, with tlie other. 'I’lie Jjald 
Eagle is very abundant, during the summer months, 
at the mouth of the Kennebec River, in Maine, and 
among the islands of (Jasco Ray. From the deck of 
the steamer one may at any time see seveial of the 
great birds in view, especially between Sequin 
Island and Rath. Here they watch. as is their habit, 
t he Fish Hawk ; and the observer is often treated 
to a view of the exciting chase which occurs when 
t he Hawk has secured his prey. A number of fine 
Raid Eagles, in various stages of plumage, are kept 
at the Central Park Zoological Carden. “'The nest 
of this species,” says Wilson, “ is generally fixed on 
a very large and lofty tree — often in a swamp or 
morass — and difficult to be ascended. On some 
noted tree of this description — often a Pine or 
Cypress — the Raid Eagle builds year after year, for 
a long series of years. 'I'he nest is large, being 
added to and repaired every season, until it becomes 
a black, prominent mass, observable at a considera- 
ble distance. It is formed of large sticks, sods, 
earthy rubbish, hay, moss, etc.” 'I'he length of this 
Eagle is three feet, and its average extent of wing 
seven feet. 'I'he male is generally two or three 
inches shorter than the female, as is the case, pro- 
portionately, with most of the Falconidm. 'I'he plu- 
mage of the male is also lighter, and he is said to be 
less daring than his mate. 'I’his, too, is said to be 
common with other birds of prey. 
Family— CATHARTIDiE. 
'J’liE ' Vultures. 
'I’he Vultures are naked-headed, carrion-feeding, 
rapacious birds. 'I'here are two families recognized 
at present, those, of the Old World being regarded as 
sufficiently different to warrant their se|)aration from 
those of the New World. 'I’he Old World Vultures 
are nearer allied to the Falconidce. 'I'hough the two 
families resemble each other in external characters, 
the anatomical structure — their internal anatomy — 
dill'crs essentially. “ In habits, the Cathartidcn re- 
semble vulturine Falconidm of the Old World. 
. They lack the strength and spirit of typical Rap- 
lores, and rarely attack animals capable of resist- 
ance. 'They are voracious, and indiscriminate gor- 
mandizers of carrion and animal refuse of all sorts, 
efficient and almost indispensable scavengers in 
warm countries, where they abound. 'I'hey are un- 
cleanly in their mode of feeding; the nature of their 
food I'enders them ill-scented; and when disturbed 
they eject the fetid contents of the crop. Although 
not gregarious, they assemble in multitudes where 
food is plenty ; and some species breed in communi- 
ties. AVhen gorged, they aiipear heavy and indisposed 
to exertion, usually passing the jieriod of digestion 
motionless, in a listless attitude, with their wings 
half siiread. Rut they spend most of the time on 
the wing, circling high in the air. 'I’heir flight is 
easy and graceful in the extreme, and capable of be- 
ing indefinitely protracted. On the ground they 
habitually walk, instead of progressing by leaps. 
Possessing no vocal apparatus, the Vultures are al- 
most mute, emitting only a weak hissing sound.” — 
Cones. 'J’he Cathurtidm all belong to the tropical 
regions. 
CALIFORNIA CONDOR [Pseudogryplms calif orni- 
anus — Plate V, fig. vii. — This Vulture rivals in size 
the great Condor of South America. Its habitat is 
the Pacific Coast region, from the mouth of the Col- 
orado to the Columbia. It is not known in Mexico, 
but is confined mostly to the warmer portions of 
California. Hr. Newbeiry says that it was to him a 
pleasant poi'tion of every day’s experience, in his 
march through Sacramento Valley, to watch the 
graceful evolutions of this Vulture. In its colors 
the combination was a pleasing one, while its flight 
was easy and effortless beyond that of any other 
bird, 'I'hough a common bird in California, he found 
it much more shy and difficult to shoot than its as- 
sociate, the 'I'urkey Riizzard. 'I’his Vulture possesses 
immense muscular powers. Dr. Heernian states that 
four of them dragged the body of a young grizzly 
bear, that weighed over a hundred pounds, the dis- 
tance of two hundred yards. “'Their senses of smell 
and sight are very acute, especially the latter; and 
when searching for prey they soar to a very great 
height, and, if they chance to see a wounded animal, 
they immediately follow and attack it whenever it 
sinks down. 'The first comers are soon followed by 
others, and it is not long before the carcass is reduced 
to a skeleton. Their flight is slow, steady and grace- 
ful, and they glide along with little or no perceptible 
motion of the wings, the tips of which are curved 
upward in flying, in the manner of the 'I’urkey Ruz- 
zard. 'They are said to appear most numerous and 
to soar the highest preceding thunder-storms and 
tempests.” — Forth American Birds. 'The nest is 
composed of a few loose sticks, generally situated in 
the crevice of a rock. Dr. Canfield asserts that he. 
has seen as many as a hundred and fifty of these 
birds around the carcasses of antelopes he had killed. 
He also says that they sighted their })rey. 'J’he total 
length of the California Vulture is forty-five to fifty 
inches; extent of wings about nine or ten feet. 
CARRION CROW (Catharista atrata). — Called, also, 
Rlack V^ultube. 'This genus has ordy one species, 
and that confined to t he tropical portions of America. 
It is found more abundant near the sea coast, but on 
the Pacific side of the United States it is not known ; 
on the Atlantic Coast it is not seen above Wilming- 
ton, N. C. In the West India Islands these birds are 
quite plentiful, having the same habit as the 'Turkey 
Ruzzard. At Charleston and Savannah they are half 
domesticated and very abundant, being prized as 
scavengers. 'They do not walk with the freedom of 
the Ruzzard, and their flight is much less graceful. 
Audubon says of it : “ 'The Carrion Crow, in common 
with the 'Turkey Ruzzard, possesses great power of 
recollection, so as to recognize at a great distance a 
j)erson who has shot at them, and even the horse on 
which he rides. At the commencement of the love 
season, about the beginning of February, the gesticula- 
tion and parade of the males are extremely ludicrous. 
'They first strut somewhat in the manner of the 
J 
