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Any one of numerous species of rapacious birds belonging to Vultur, Cathartes, Catharista, and various other genera of the family Vulturidæ.

ked bill, and sharp, strongly curved talons. There are three families, represented by the vultures, the falcons or hawks, and the owls.

Having a beard. "Bearded fellow." Shak. "Bearded grain." Dryden. Bearded vulture, Bearded eagle. (Zoöl.) See Lammergeir. -- Bearded tortoise. (Zoöl.) See Matamata.

A south American bird of several species and genera, resembling both the eagles and the vultures. The caracaras act as scavengers, and are also called carrion buzzards.

A very large bird of the Vulture family (Sarcorhamphus gryphus), found in the most elevated parts of the Andes.

referred to in the Bible (Lev. xi. 18and Deut. xiv. 17) as unclean, probably the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus).

e; to move interruptedly; to twinkle. And all along the forum and up the sacred seat, His vulture eye pursued the trip of those small glancing feet. Macaulay.

A species of large vulture (Gyps fulvus) found in the mountainous parts of Southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor; - - called also gripe, and grype. It is supposed to be the "eagle" of the Bible. The bearded griffin is the lammergeir. [Written also gryphon.]

A vulture; the griffin. [Obs.] Like a white hind under the gripe's sharp claws. Shak. Gripe's egg, an alchemist's vessel. [Obs.] E. Jonson.

A vulture; the griffin. [Written also gripe.] [Obs.]

The griffin vulture.

abulous winged monster, ravenous and filthy, having the face of a woman and the body of a vulture, with long claws, and the face pale with hunger. Some writers mention two, others three. Both table and provisions vanished guite. With sound of harpies' wings and talons heard. Milton.

A very large vulture (Gypaëtus barbatus), which inhabits the mountains of Southern Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. When full- grown it is nine or ten feet in extent of wings. It is brownish black above, with the under parts and neck rusty yellow; the forehead and crown white; the sides of the head and beard black. I…

See Faro. Pharaoh's chicken (Zoöl.), the gier-eagle, or Egyptian vulture; -- so called because often sculpured on Egyptian monuments. It is nearly white in color. -- Pharaoh's rat (Zoöl.), the common ichneumon.

Jupiter, being angry at this, sent Mercury to bind Prometheus to Mount Caucasus, where a vulture preyed upon his liver.

To secure prey; to prey, as a vulture or harpy. L'Estrange.

A bird of prey, as the owl or vulture. [Obs.] Holland.

ith rapacious eagerness; furiously voracious; hungry even to rage; as, a ravenous wolf or vulture.

A division of raptorial birds composing the vultures.

to project upon a background, so as to be like a silhouette. [Recent] A flock of roasting vultures silhouetted on the sky. The Century.