VULTURE, any of various birds of prey which habitually feed on carrion. The vul tures of the Old and New Worlds are quite distinct, the former constituting a family (Cathartidce) already sufficiently described un der the articles CARRON-CROW, CONDOR and TURICEY-BUZZARD ; while the latter are much more nearly related to the hawks and eagles (Falconidce), of which they are considered to be a subfamily (Vulturina) or to form an allied family (Vulturidce). This group is distin guished by the possession of a strongly-hooked compressed bill; by short tarsi covered with reticulated or small polygonal scales. The mid dle toe is longer than the tarsus, and the hinder toe is a little elevated. The claws are blunt, but more or less hooked. The head and neck are frequently naked or covered with a light down. A large crop exists and the intestinal cmca and syrinx, wanting in the Cathartidle. are present. There are numerous other differ ences in skeletal and other parts. The cinere ous vulture (Vultur monachus) is distinguished by the presence of a ruff of feathers, and by the crest borne on the back of the head. It in habits Europe, Asia and Africa, and is com mon. It may attain a length of three or four feet, and its color is a chocolate-brown with the naked head and necic blue. A long tuft of feathers springs from the base of the wings. The bird inhabits wooded situations and nests in trees as a rule, and appears to content itself with carrion, but rarely ventures to attack liv ing animals.
The genus Otogyps, including the O. calvus, or Pondicherry vulture, and the O. auricularis or sociable vulture, is distinguished from the preceding genus by having a bare head and neck, with long wattles dependent from just be low the head. The sociable vulture inhabits South Africa. It is colored a general blackish brown, and its average length is four feet. The naked head and neck are light red. The Pondi cherry vulture inhabits India, and is about three feet in length. Its head and neck are
flesh-colored, and the chest bears a tuft ot white feathers, the plumage generally being dark or blackish-brown. .The genus Gyps is repre sented by the griffin or fulvous vulture (G. ful vus), and is distinguished by the bill being swqllen or distended at the sides, the head and neck being covered with short down, and the neck possessing a ruff of long pointed or downy feathers. The griffin vulture inhabits Europe, Asia and Africa. It attains a length of four feet, and is of a general yellowish-brown tint,, the tail and wing quills bein4 black and the neck ruff white. The head is covered with white down. It is abundant about the Mediter ranean countries, and builds its nest on cliffs. It is noted for its activity and great powers of flight. The Egyptian vulture (Neophron perettopterus) inhabits south Europe, Egypt and Asia. It is white, the quill-feathers of the wings being dark brown or black, and the face, bill and legs chiefly yellow. It is of small size and trim build. This bird is also known under the designations of °Pharaoh's chicken° and °white crow,° and is protected by laws from be ing injured. Besides carrion it devours all kinds of refuse left by the larger vultures and small reptiles, insects, etc. In the weak bill and some other respect: the Egyptian vulture some what approaches the Cathartida% The cele brated lamrnergeier or bearded vulture (Gypaqus barbatus), a genus and species distinguished from the preceding by the head and neck being feathered, and by the cere being concealed by bristly hairs, resembles the eagles in appear ance and habits and is now generally con sidered as the representative of a subfamily (Gyptztitur) of the Falconidx. (See LAN! ISERGEIER) . Consult Dresser,