36 BULLETIN 16 7, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



tearing and devouring. Seeing them take no notice, I ventured nearer, till 

 I vpas within ten yards, and sat down on the bank. Still they paid little atten- 

 tion to me. The dogs being sometimes accidentally flapped with the wings of 

 the vultuies, would growl and snap at them, which would occasion them to 

 spring up for a moment, but they immediately gathered in again. I remarked 

 the vultures frequently attack each other, lighting with their claws or heels, 

 striking like a cock, with open wings, and fixing their claws in each other's 

 head. The females, and, I believe, the males likewise, made a hissing sound, 

 with open mouth, exactly resembling that produced by thrusting a red hot 

 poker into water ; and frequently a snuffling, like a dog clearing his nostrils, 

 as I suppose they were theirs. On observing that they did not heed me, I 

 stole so close that my feet were within one yard of the horse's legs, and again 

 sat down. They all slid aloof a few feet; but, seeing me quiet, they soon re- 

 turned as before. As they were often disturbed by the dogs, I ordered the latter 

 home : my voice gave no alarm to the vultures. As soon as the dogs de- 

 parted, the vultures crowded in such numbers, that I counted at one time 

 thirty-seven on and around the carcass, with several within ; so that scarcely 

 an inch of it was visible. Sometimes one would come out with a large piece of 

 the entrails, which in a moment was surrounded by several others, who tore 

 it in fragments, and it soon disappeared. They kept up the hissing occasionally. 

 Some of them having their whole legs and head covered with blood, presented 

 a most savage aspect. Still as the dogs advanced, I would order them away, 

 which seemed to gratify the vultures ; and one would pursue another to within 

 a foot or two of the spot where I was sitting. Sometimes I observed them 

 stretching their necks along the ground, as if to press the food downwards. 



The black vultures are often obliged to share their feasts with 

 turkey vultures, and, according to Golsan and Holt (1914), they al- 

 ways get the better of the latter in a quarrel. On the other hand, 

 according to Audubon (1840), "should eagles make their appearance 

 at such a juncture, the Carrion Crows retire, and patiently wait 

 until their betters are satisfied, but they pay little regard to the 

 dogs." In tearing off choice morsels from the carcass with their 

 bills the vultures brace their feet firmly on the ground and flap 

 violently with their wings to aid them in pulling away. 



Their movements on the ground are not graceful. Aretas A. 

 Saunders (1906) graphically describes them as follows: "When the 

 vulture is taking his time about getting around, he moves with a 

 very solemn, sedate walk, carefully placing one foot in front of the 

 other. When he is in a hurry, however, he slightly spreads his 

 "wings and indulges in what looks like hopping but is really a very 

 one-sided run. At first sight he seems to put both feet on the 

 ground at once, but in reality he puts down the left foot first and 

 takes his long step with the right foot." 



In the air, on the other hand, the black vulture is much more at 

 his ease, but he is far inferior in flight to the turkey vulture, owing 

 to his shorter wings and tail and to his greater weight. While 

 the turkey vulture sails in majestic circles on motionless wings, borne 

 up by the air currents, the black vulture on the same up-currents is 



