the whole compass of
animated nature. Nor are the feathered races less interesting to common
observers. They are associated in the mind with all that is romantic
and beautiful in scenery. Their mysterious emigrations, at stated
seasons, from land to land; their foresight of calm and storm; their
melody and beauty; and that wonderful construction by which some of
them are fitted for land and air, and others for swimming,--these
contribute to render them an unfailing source of interest to mankind at
large.

The birds are divided into six orders, under each of which we shall
notice a few of the more prominent species.

ORDER I.

ACCIPITRES,

BIRDS OF PREY.

VULTURES.

The CONDOR.--This is not only the largest of vultures, but the largest
known bird of flight. It is common in the regions of the Andes, in
South America, and is occasionally found as far north as the Rocky
Mountains of the United States. Nuttall gives us the following
characteristic sketch of this fierce and formidable bird:--

"A pair of condors will attack a cougar, a deer, or a llama: pursuing
it for a long time, they will occasionally wound it with their bills
and claws, until the unfortunate animal, stifled, and overcome with
fatigue, extends its tongue and groans; on which occasion the condor
seizes this member, being a very tender and favorite morsel, and tears
out the eyes of its prey, which at length falls to the earth and
expires. The greedy bird then gorges himself, and rests, in stupidity
and almost gluttonous inebriation, upon the highest neighboring rocks.
He can then be easily taken, as he is so gorged that he cannot fly."

_Vultures in Africa._--Mr. Pringle describes these birds as follows:
"They divide with the hyaenas the office of carrion scavengers; and the
promptitude with which they discover and devour every dead carcass is
truly surprising. They also instinctively follow any band of hunters,
or party of men travelling, especially in solitary places, wheeling in
circles high in the air, ready to pounce down upon any game that may be
shot and not instantly secured, or the carcass of any ox, or other
animal, that may perish on the road. In a field of battle, no one ever
buries the dead; the vultures and beasts of prey relieve the living of
that trouble."

TURKEY BUZZARD and CARRION CROW.--These are two small species of
vulture, common in our Southern States, and may be often seen in the
cities, prowling for such offals