120 



THE TURKEY \ ILTURE. 



is like the pull of the string which enables the kite to shoot rapidly upward 

 through the air. But what shall we say of a bird which, without momentum, 

 hut still mi motionless wing, rises steadily against the wind? Not only rises, 

 but makes rapid progress forward as well, in a direction contrary to the wind? 

 That these and other birds do accom- 

 plish this teat is a fact patent to all 

 careful observers. How they do it — 

 well, that is another matter. "The way 

 of an Eagle ( Vulture) in the air" has 

 puzzled mure than wise Agur. 

 The American Vulture is not 

 a high-flyer like those of the 

 Orient. In his case, however, 

 it is still clearly evident that en- 

 tire dependence is placed upon 

 the eye-sight in the detection 

 of food. An immense extent 

 of territory is covered by a 

 Buzzard on his daily rounds. 

 No visible corruption escapes 

 his notice, hut the odor of half- 

 covered carrion may become al- 

 mi >st palpable bef< ire it attracts 

 his attention. A possible rea- 

 si n for this inability to locate 

 by the sense of smell alone is 

 disclosed in the words of 

 Cones: "Certain it is that In- 

 dependent of the passing con- 

 tents of the alimentary canal. 

 permanent foetid, musky odors 

 exhale from the hones and 

 muscles; and the same stench 

 is entangled in the web of the 

 feathers. Tt is retained for a 

 long whi'e even after the bird 

 is killed and stuffed. So 

 strong is it that one author, an 

 excellent naturalist, to,,, fancied it must be rather unpleasant to the birds 

 themselves." Hence it would appear that since the birds smell so 

 themselves, they are not in a position to exercise discrimination with 

 ence to external scents. It does not seem to he true, as has sometimes heen 



i u mo] ioxi.r.ss 



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refer- 



