172 INSESSORES. 



of our best friends. In the warm cities of the South, 

 (for it is here that these birds are most abundant), 

 troops of them, in company with the Black Vultures, 

 may be found almost daily performing the office of 

 scavengers. They are to be seen walking or flying 

 about the streets, frequenting the markets or sham- 

 bles, and greedily snatching up the pieces of flesh 

 which are thrown away by the butchers, and even 

 attempting, when opportunity offers, to help them- 

 selves from the benches where meat is exposed for 

 sale ; thus the air is, in great measure, kept free from 

 the foul effluvia which would otherwise be created by 

 the accumulation of such substances. They will also 

 follow the carcass of a horse or cow as it is dragged 

 through the streets, and upon its being deposited in 

 the suburbs, will even dispute possession with the 

 dogs which assemble to assist in devouring it; but 

 should Eagles make their appearance on such occa- 

 sions, the Vultures retire, and patiently wait until 

 their second turn comes, when they immediately 

 commence again in all the hurry of a keen appetite, 

 and seldom stop until the whole is consumed. 



The California Vulture is another species similar 

 in its habits and appearance, although much larger, 

 it being the largest bird known to exist north of the 

 isthmus of Darien, almost equalling the far-famed 

 Condor of the Andes, to which it is closely allied.* 



* The Condor, being a large and powerful bird, is, even 

 under unfavorable circumstances, almost a match for a full- 

 grown man. Captain Head relates the following anecJoto 



