Retrospective Ciiticism. 87 



applying the bill with great force. So accustomed to my 

 going towards them were they in a few days, that when I 

 approached the cage with hands filled with game for them, 

 they immediately began hissing and gesticulating, very much 

 like young pigeons, and putting their bills to each other, as if 

 expecting to be fed mutually, as their parent had done. Two 

 weeks elapsed ; black feathers made their appearance, and the 

 down diminished. I remarked an extraordinary increase of 

 their legs and bill ; and thinking them fit for trial, I closed 

 three sides of the cage with planks, leaving the front only 

 with bars for them to see through ; had the cage cleaned, 

 washed, and sanded, to remove any filth attached to it from 

 the putrid flesh that had been in it ; and turned its front imme- 

 diately from the course I usually took towards it with food for 

 them. I approached it often barefooted, and soon perceived 

 that if I did not accidentally make a noise, the young birds 

 remained in their silent upright attitudes, until I showed my- 

 self to them by turning to the front of their prison. I fre- 

 quently fastened a dead squirrel or rabbit, cut open, with all 

 his entrails hanging loosely to along pole, and in this situation 

 would put it to the back part of the cage ; but no hissing, no 

 movement was made : when, on the contrary, I presented the 

 end of the pole, thus covered, over the cage ; no sooner would 

 it appear beyond the edge, than my hungry birds wouldjump 

 against the bars, hiss furiously, and attempt all in their power 

 to reach the food. This was repeatedly done with fresh and 

 putrid substances, all very congenial to their taste. Satisfied 

 within myself, I dropped these trials, but fed the birds until 

 full grown, and then turned them into the yard of the kitchens, 

 for the purpose of picking up whatever substances might be 

 thrown to them. Their voracity, however, soon caused their 

 death : young pigs were not safe, if within their reach ; and 

 young ducks, turkeys, or chickens were such a constant 

 temptation, that the cook, unable to watch them, killed them 

 both, to put an end to their depredations. 



" I could enumerate many more instances, indicating that 

 the power of smelling in these birds has been grossly exag- 

 gerated ; and that, if they can smell objects at any distance, 

 they can see the same objects much farther. I would ask any 

 observer of the habits of birds, why, if vultures could smell at 

 a great distance their prey, they should spend the greater por- 

 tion of their lives hunting for it, when they are naturally so 

 lazy, that if they are fed in one place, they never will leave it ; 

 and merely make such a change as is absolutely necessary ta 

 enable them to reach it. 



61 Having heard it said, no doubt with the desire to prove 



g 4 



