178 Mr Audubon on the Habits of the Turkey Buzzard. 



and affording further evidence to those persons who are satisfied 

 with appearances only. In this manner I have seen several hun- 

 dreds of vultures and carrion-crows assembled near a dead ox, 

 at the dusk of evening, that had only two or three in the morn- 

 ing; when some of the latter comers had probably travelled 

 hundreds of miles searching diligently themselves for food, and 

 probably would have had to go much farther, had they not 

 espied this association. 



Around the spot both species remain ; some of them from 

 time to time examining the dead body, giving it a tug in those 

 parts most accessible, until putridity ensues. The accumula- 

 ted number then fall to work, exhibiting a most disgusting pic- 

 ture of famished cannibals ; the strongest driving the weakest, 

 and this latter harassing the former with all the power that a 

 disappointed hungry stomach can produce. They are seen jump- 

 ing off the carcase, reattacking it, entering it, and wrestling for 

 portions partly swallowed by two or more of them, hissing at a 

 furious rate, and clearing every moment their nostrils from the 

 filth that enters there, and stops their breathing. No doubt re- 

 mains on my mind, that the great outward dimensions of these 

 nostrils were allotted them for that especial and necessary pur- 

 pose. 



The animal is soon reduced to a mere skeleton, no portion 

 of' it being now too hard not to be torn apart and swallowed, 

 leaving merely the bare bones. Soon all these bloody feeders 

 are seen standing gorged, and scarcely able to take wing. At 

 such times the observer may approach very near the group, 

 whilst engaged in feeding, and see the vultures in contact 

 with the dogs, who really by smelling have found the prey. 

 Whenever this happens, it is with the greatest reluctance that 

 the birds suffer themselves to be driven off, although frequently 

 the sudden scowl or growl of the dogs will causejuearly all the 

 vultures to rise a few yards in the air. I have several times 

 seen the buzzards feeding at one extremity of the carcase, whilst 

 the dogs were tearing the other ; but if a single wolf approached, 

 or a pair of white-headed eagles, driven by extreme hunger, then 

 the place is abandoned to them until their wants are supplied. 



The repast finished, each bird gradually rises to the highest 

 branches of the nearest trees, and remains there until the full 



