from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Vulture \Vul"ture\ (?; 135), n. [OE. vultur, L. vultur: cf. OF.
voltour, F. vautour.] (Zool.)
Any one of numerous species of rapacious birds belonging to
{Vultur}, {Cathartes}, {Catharista}, and various other genera
of the family {Vulturidae}.
[1913 Webster]
Note: In most of the species the head and neck are naked or
nearly so. They feed chiefly on carrion. The condor,
king vulture, turkey buzzard, and black vulture
({Catharista atrata}) are well known American species.
The griffin, lammergeir, and Pharaoh's chicken, or
Egyptian vulture, are common Old World vultures.
[1913 Webster]