king vulture or king of the vultures

Ornith.: A large vulture which receives its name from the alleged fact that when it is pleased to make its appearance on a carca on which other vultures are at work, they meekly stop proceedings and look on without eating until the king-vulture has gorged itself to satiety. There is nothing senti mental in this apparent loyalty to a royal person age; the smaller vultures postpone satisfying the claims of appetite only because they are afraid that the larger and stronger bird would fall upon them if they did anything else. The king-vulture is found in South America. The Spaniards of Paraguay call it the white crow. Its plumage is milky-white; on its neck, which is naked, is blood-red skin. It is the Sarcorhamphus papa . [SARCORHAMPHUS.] *king-worship, s . Exce ive or extravagant reverence or loyalty to a sovereign. ( Macaulay .)