The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-04

ers. 1t did this once or twice, and then
with shrek the vulture dropped its
prey. The bird was then probably sos
feet or SO above the observers. ThS
astonished men below were then treated
TO spectacle seldom seen anywhere
Few birds but vulture could accom-.
pish such feat. The instant the snake
Escaped from the birds clutches L
dropped earthward like q shot. And
like shot the bird dropped after IL,
catching the astonished snake in mid.
air ere it touched the ground with a
grip that caused death. A. any rate,
the snake ceased TO wiggle, and thu
ivulture scored away TO q mountain
peak to devour its hard-earned meal.
Why the snake did not bite the vulture
and cause the death OF the bird oan
only be explained by the fact that the
thick feathers probably protected the
biped's flesh from incision by the rep
tiles fangs
These vultures are closely allied Il
the common turkey buzzard. Their
color is a glossy black. with patches OF
white under the wings. The greater
part Of the neck IS bare, like the turkey
buzzard with a ruf1e where the feathers
begin. There is a bright orange patch
on the head. A fair-sized specimen Of
the California vulture is four feet high
and weighs about 20 pounds. Years
age, when these huge birds were com,
mon, 1t was a familiar sight In the val.
leys 10 see California vultures and buz-
yards feeding on tho same carcass IN
perfect harmony, while occasionally "A
raven would join them. These vultures
were frequently Caug5. alive, when
gorged, by larist in the hands of
cowboy. One cause Of the extermina-
ton of the yIilture in California has
been through the medium of poisoned
meat, prepared by rauchers 10 kill pes
tiferous animals. The breeding habits
OF the vultures are practically unknown,
although it is supposed TO nest in caves
or cliffs, like the turkey buzzard Ow-
ing to the practical extinction Of the
bird, it's eggs are as rare and valuable
as are those Of the great aux. and will
probably become more valuable. Some
IS perfect eggs Of the great aux are in
collections, one OF these eggs being
worth 81, 500 or more. Only two eggs o!
the California vulture are known TO ex-
ist. Even the national museum az
Washington does not possess one Of
these valuable specimens.
Observations OF bird life az different
places along the route Of the boundary
survey, which sometimes took the nat,
uralists into the mountains, were 81
rare interest. At one point along the |
shores OF a small lake many dead birds |
were seen. These birds were known |
the ''eared grebe." The bodies Of the |
birds found within the limits Of given |
distance were counted. and the number /
Of dead birds about the shores OF the |
entire Lake was estimated al go. 600. Il
was thought that one Of the two causes,
or both combined, must account for the |
death Of 20 many birds. Either the /
water. which was saturated with salt i
md soda, was in some WY injurious "a i
them, or, remaining 10 search for prop 1
Pr food. which did not exist in the 4
AXE. they became 50 weak a. 20 be IN \
sble 70 fy and died OF starvation II is
said by old guides that this treIaen-
sous bird mortality occurs at this pa
icular point regularly every year
Los Angeles Cor. Philadelphia Times.