THE VULTURE FAMILY.
Vulture and Griffin Fighting over Prey.
Vulture and Griffin Fighting over Prey.
Vulture and Griffin Fighting over Prey.
The Vultures are the most disgusting of the feathered creation. Like the Hyena among animals, they rarely attack living prey, but live almost entirely upon putrid flesh, and after filling themselves with this food they will remain in a state of stupid torpor until it is digested. Yet much as we despise them, we must recognize their friendly mission to mankind, for while the other Birds of Prey are often of use to the farmers, etc., in killing off the field and barn Mice, and destructive insects, the Vultures remove all decaying flesh and putrid matter from the earth that might otherwise breed disease.
The Vultures fly heavily, but mount aloft to great altitudes. They have wonderful powers of vision. Should a carcass be left on the plain they immediately see it, and drop down, turning over and over in their hurry to arrive at the feast.
The Bearded Griffon, Condor, King Vulture, Urubu, Turkey Buzzard, Fulvous Vulture and Pondicherry Vulture, are the principal species of the great Vulture family.
The Bearded Griffon is the celebrated Lammergeyer, described by some Naturalist under the name of the Golden Vulture. The Lammergeyer forms, as the name indicates, an intermediate genus between the Eagles and the Vultures, having head and eyes like the Vultures and feet and strong beak like the Eagles. It owes its name—Bearded Griffon—to a tuft of stiff hair that is under the beak. The loftiest mountains of Europe, Asia and Africa are its home, and its aerie, which is of great size, is built among the most inaccessible rocks.
In our illustration, one of these Bearded Griffons or Golden Vultures has discovered a Common Vulture (sometimes called the Goose Hawk) feasting upon the carcass of a Pamir-sheep (one of the greatest of the Sheep species, inhabiting lofty plateaus above the tree limit).
The Vulture at the feast hears the rushing of mighty wings and the Bearded Griffon, followed by his wife, drops on a neighboring rock.
With spreading wings and wide opened bill, the Bearded Griffon flies on his opponent to make him relinquish his booty; but the Vulture is not easily scared off. He is courageous, passionate and artful. With ruffled plumage, neck drawn in, beak opened to ward off the blow, he awaits the attack. Suddenly he darts out the long neck quick as a wink and seeks to give his enemy a blow with his beak. But the other is on his guard, and the Vulture again takes the waiting attitude. But it will not last long; the Bearded Griffon rushes on him, and with claws meeting these kings of the air fight out a mighty battle. It is scarcely to be doubted that the stronger Bearded Griffon will at last win the victory and divide the spoil with his wife, while the exhausted and bleeding Vulture flies away to seek some other supply to satisfy his hunger. So throughout all nature the bitter fight for existence goes on, and ever the strong must be overcome by the yet stronger.
Condor Capturing Llama.
Condor Capturing Llama.
Condor Capturing Llama.
As in the Alps andPyrenees the Vulture and his kin reign and build their aerie, so in the mountain heights of the South American Andes, from the equator to the 45 degrees of latitude, the mighty Condor reigns. He is the most powerful of all Birds of Prey, of whose mode of living mankind has only been able during the last few years, to obtain much accurate information. The color of his plumage is black shading toward dark blue. The centre of the wings are white, head and throat are almost bare, and the warty skin on both sides of the neck is red. The red comb on the head and the white silky collar are sufficiently characteristic of the Condor to distinguish him from other Birds of these mountains.
The power of flight and swiftness of this Bird is altogether extraordinary and the keenness of his sight wonderful. He, like the other Vultures, subsists on carrion. In case of a deficiency in this direction, he attacks herds of Lambs, Sheep and Calves and among the various species of Llama infesting his regions he causes great devastation, wherefore inhabitants of these mountain regions have great aversion for him and endeavor in every possible manner to entrap and destroy him. It is astonishing how this Bird, swaying at such tremendous height that the naked eye can scarcely discern him, can detect carrion, which has been thrown aside as a bait for him, or the nearness of wounded animal, and how first one, then others, appear, of whose presence one has previously had no inkling. When the Condor pursues an animal, he continues the chase until either the prey, leaping over a precipice, dashes to pieces, or he pounces upon and crushes it, battering in its skull with his powerful bill. His principal booty as previously mentioned, is the swift-footed though defenceless Llama. In the illustration we see how a powerful Condor has pursued one of the most useful of domestic animals until he has fallenexhausted, and now proceeds to kill and consume him. In the distance hovers a comrade with whom he will be obliged, willingly or otherwise, to share the booty.