Turkey Vulture. 283 



and farther away, aimlessly sailing in its ever-widening 

 spirals, and the others gradually increasing their distance 

 from the beholder and the earth, until the party of scav- 

 engers has become lost to view. 



The turkey vulture is quite inoffensive on the ground, 

 and it is even cowardly when cornered. When it is 

 frightened, it has a habit of hissing like a goose defending 

 itself or its nest and family, and it will often stamp its 

 foot like a frightened hare. When it is wounded or 

 pressed closely by its enemy, it will sometimes fall over 

 apparently dead, thus feigning death for many minutes at 

 a time, and frequently repeating the action several times 

 in a limited period. In this peculiar action it either ex- 

 hibits the crafty nature of the fox and opossum, or else it 

 really succumbs to its emotions of fear. The latter theory 

 is the more probable; for in other instances it does not 

 exhibit the high order of instinct which renders the quad- 

 rupeds cited examples of cunning and craftiness. 



The habits of the turkey vultures are indeed repulsive, 

 but the traits of their character render them of incalculable 

 benefit as scavengers. As the birds swoop slowly, yet 

 majestically, among the tree-tops, or soar in spiral flight 

 above the prairies and woods, they are ever scanning the 

 area below to detect the uncovered carcasses on which to 

 satisfy their voracity. The discovery of food by one bird 

 is communicated to others in a manner partially mysterious 

 to us, but well understood by its fellows; and in an in- 

 credibly short period the other individuals in the locality, 

 and others not in sight when the discovery was made, 

 may be seen wheeling into the neighborhood, and swoop- 

 ing down to the repulsive repast. Like others of the 

 rapacious birds, they have a wonderful capacity for food 

 when the opportunity to gratify their appetite presents 

 itself, and they seldom leave the banquet, if undisturbed, 

 until they are gorged almost to stupefaction. Then they 

 sit around the carcass, indifferent to their surroundings, 

 if the place is retired and they are not likely to be dis- 

 turbed, and thus they mopishly await the progress of di- 

 gestion. If the place is not suitable, they retire into the 

 more sheltered and dense woods, and there doze until di- 

 gestion relieves their gorged condition. Thus are these 



