CHAPTER III.

DIVISION I.--THE CARINATE BIRDS (CARINATÆ).

THE ACCIPITRINE ORDER--BIRDS OF PREY.

VULTURES AND CARACARAS.

The Birds of Prey--Distinctive Characters--The Cere--How the Birds of Prey are Divided--Difference between a Hawk, an Owl, and an Osprey--The Three Sub-orders of the Accipitres--Sub-order FALCONES--Difference between the Vultures of the Old World and the Vultures of the New World--THE OLD WORLD VULTURES--Controversy as to how the Vultures reach their Prey--Waterton on the Faculty of Scent--Mr Andersson’s, Dr. Kirk’s, and Canon Tristram’s Views in Favour of Sight--THE BLACK VULTURE--THE GRIFFON VULTURE--Its Capacity for Feeding while on the Wing--THE EARED VULTURE--One of the Largest of the Birds of Prey--Whence it gets its Name--THE EGYPTIAN VULTURE--A Foul Feeder--THE NEW WORLD VULTURES--THE CONDOR--Its Appearance--Power of Flight--Habits--THE KING VULTURE--THE TURKEY VULTURE--THE CARACARAS--Distinctive Characters--Habits--THE SECRETARY BIRD--How it Attacks Snakes--Habits--Appearance--THE ÇARIAMA 254