He feeds principally upon carrion, and dead fish that have been left by the drying-up of ponds and lakes; but he will also kill and eat serpents, lizards, and small mammiferous animals.

Bartram states that in Florida he only appears after the savannas have been on fire, when he is seen to pass over the ground amidst the black ashes, hunting for and devouring the snakes and lizards that have been killed by the fire.

Bartram, therefore, infers that his food must consist altogether of _roasted_ reptiles; but as it would be sometimes difficult for him to procure a supply of these ready-cooked, I think we may safely conclude that he does not object to eating them _raw_.

The fanciful ideas of these old naturalists are sometimes very amusing from their very absurdity.
"The king-vultures live in pairs as eagles do--though they are often seen in flocks, when a carcass or some other object has brought them together.
"This bird has been called the `painted' vulture on account of the brilliant colours upon his head and neck, which do, in fact, present the appearance of the most vivid painting.

He derives his name of a `King-vulture,' not from the possession of any noble qualities, but from the manner in which he tyrannises over the _common_ vultures (_aura_ and _atratus_), keeping them from their food until he has gorged himself with the choicest morsels.