170 Retrospective Criticism, 



It now remains for naturalists to account for the errors 

 which have, for so many ages, existed with regard to the 

 power of scent ascribed to our vultures. Indeed, it is highly 

 probable that facts elicited from the experiments of Audubon 

 on our two species of vulture, strengthened by those insti- 

 tuted on this occasion, may apply to all the rest of the genus. 

 Without having had many opportunities of observiition, I am 

 inclined to doubt the extraordinary powers of smell ascribed 

 to the condor of the Andes (C. Gryphus), and it would be 

 advisable to make farther experiments on the vultures of 

 southern Europe and Africa. Perhaps it may yet be dis- 

 covered that all the birds belonging to this genus are alto- 

 gether indebted to the eye in their search after food. Indeed, 

 I am of opinion, that, while to quadrupeds (particularly car- 

 nivorous ones) the faculty of scent is their peculiar province, 

 this organ is but imperfectly developed in birds. As it does, 

 however, exist, although in an inferior degree, I am not dis- 

 posed to deny to birds the power of smell altogether ; nor 

 would I wish to advance the opinion that the vulture does not 

 possess the faculty of smelling in the slightest degree, although 

 it has not been discovered by our experiments. All that I 

 contend for is, that he is not assisted by this faculty in pro- 

 curing his food : that he cannot smell better, for instance, 

 than hawks or owls, which, it is known, are indebted to their 

 sight altogether in discovering their prey. If our vultures 

 had to depend on their olfactory powers alone in procuring 

 food, what would become of them in cold winters ; in Ken- 

 tucky, for instance, where they remain all the year, and where 

 the earth is bound up with frost for months at a time, and 

 where, consequently, during that period, putrefaction does 

 not take place : and, if they had to depend alone on tainted 

 meat for food, how soon would the whole race (at least, in our 

 temperate climates) die of hunger ? 



How easily error may be perpetuated, from age to age, we 

 may learn from a thousand other visionary notions, which the 

 more careful observations of recent travellers and naturalists 

 have exploded. At this day, the belief is very general in this 

 country, that, immediately after a deer (Cervus virginianus) 

 has been killed, the vultures, at the distance of many miles, 

 are seen coming in a direct line against the wind, scenting 

 the slaughtered animal. This may be accounted for, with a 

 little observation, upon rational principles. When a deer is 

 killed, the entrails are immediately taken out : these, or per- 

 haps the blood which covers the earth to some distance, are 

 seen by some passing bird. He directly commences sailing 

 around the neighbourhood ; he is observed by those at a dis- 



