VULTURES. 83 



at the mouth of every river ; and, consequently, all inland navigation 

 from the sea must have been impossible, except in perfectly flat 

 countries. 



9. As we rarely find such falls, or rapids, at the mouths of rivers, 

 and as we have reason to know, on the contrary, that their originally 

 inclined planes have neither been materially altered in inclination, nor 

 shortened in extent, we must conclude, that the loss of land on all 

 sea coasts has, as yet, been but small, and, consequently, that the un- 

 ceasing action of the waves has been but of recent origin *. 



10. As the superficial slopes of all hilly countries lead the eye, in a 

 regular line, to the level of the sea, in about one mile, (more or less, 

 according to the consistency of the shores,) we cannot avoid the very 

 same conclusion which we have before attained in a more exact manner, 

 in the instance of the chalk ; viz. that all our present sea coasts have 

 been acted upon by the sea but a very few thousands of years, and, con- 

 sequently, that all existing dry lands were elevated above the level of 

 the ocean, at the same recent period. 



VULTURES, (From Le Vaillants Birds.) 

 (VULTUR, CW., Vieill., Temm., Briss, Linn., Lath.; EGYPIUS, Saviy.j 



PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS. 



BILL straight, longish, flattish at the sides, convex on the upper part, thick or 

 slender ; upper mandible covered with a cire at its base, and curved only towards 

 the point ; the lower straight, rounded, and inclined at its point ; nostrils naked, 

 crescent-shaped or rounded, transversal or longitudinal. Tongue channelled, bor- 

 dered with points or without points, indented at its extremity. Mouth cleft almost 

 as far as under the eyes. Shanks reticulated. Toes four in number, warty under- 

 neath, three in front, one behind ; the outer ones united at their base by a short 

 membrane ; the intermediate very long ; the hinder articulated at the base of the 

 shank in the same manner as the anterior. Claws slightly arched. 



* It is stated by a recent and very able writer on this subject, (but who advocates 

 an unbounded theory of Chronology) in treating of the action of the sea upon its 

 coasts, that, on the coast of Yorkshire, four yards a year is the rate of decay. 

 This loss, for only one million of years, amounts to no less than 2272 miles j and 

 even at one yard of annual loss, Yorkshire must once have extended 568 miles 

 further eastward than it now does. 



