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diurnal birds of prey. 
any apparent movement of their well-shaped wings, makes them really attractive 
objects to watch.” Like all their kin, they are, however, essentially scavengers, 
and when on the ground are by no means pleasing creatures. Dr. W. J. Ralph 
writes that although carrion-eaters, they prefer fresh meat to that which is tainted, 
but that being unable to kill game for themselves, while their weak bills are in¬ 
capable of tearing open the skins of large animals, they have seldom an opportunity 
of exercising their preference. “ When they find a dead animal they will not leave 
A GROUP OF TURKEY-VULTURES (J Uat. size). 
it until all (but the bones and other hard parts) has been consumed, and if it be a 
large one, or if it have a tough skin, they will often remain near it for days, roosting 
by night in the trees near by. After they have eaten—and sometimes they will 
gorge themselves until the food runs out of their mouths when they move—they 
will, if they are not too full to fly, roost in the nearest trees until their meal is 
partly digested, and then commence eating again. Many times I have seen these 
birds in company with the black vulture floating down a stream on a dead 
alligator, cow, or other large animal, crowded so closely together that they could 
hardly keep their balance, and followed by a number on the wing.” In spite of 
