605 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
And true enough, for happening to be present the following week 
at a similar performance at the mission of Magdalena, distant twenty 
leagues from Concepcion, I heard the Indians cry out, and soon 
recognised the lame Urubu, just arrived. The curés of the two 
missions informed me that this bird never failed to be present on the 
fixed days at both places. This fact would seem to indicate a very 
high degree of instinct in the Urubu, combined with memory.” 
According as it inhabits country or town, the Urubu passes the 
night on branches of trees or roofs of houses. As soon as it 1s light 
in the morning it proceeds to search for food ; and, describing wide 
circles in the air, explores the neighbourhood. If it perceives a 
carcase, it pitches on it, and, from the power with which its beak 
is furnished, soon effects an opening through the hide into the 
intestines, But its movements have been watched by others, and 
soon thousands arrive to take part in the putrid banquet. Con- 
tests and fights, wrangling and struggling, in which the strongest is 
triumphant, then arise. In an incredibly short time the carcase is 
devoured, and nothing remains but a skeleton, the bones of which 
are cleaned as thoroughly as if done by an anatomist. The Urubus 
afterwards perch in the neighbourhood, and with their necks drawn 
back between their shoulders, and their wings extended, rapidly 
digest their food. The Urubus, like most of the Vulture family, 
spread their wings out for hours, although in a state of repose. The 
cause of this habit is that the attitude permits them to exhale from 
their bodies a kind of greasy perspiration. 
In spite of the services which this bird renders man it is still 
regarded with the greatest repugnance. Nevertheless, D’Orbigny 
states that he has seen some completely tamed, and that they appcared 
susceptible of affection. This naturalist also relates that a creole 
had one of these birds, which he had reared, and that it accompanied 
its master wherever he went. At one time its master having fallen 
ill, the bird became very sad; but finding one day that the window 
of the sick-room was left open, it flew in, and came close to the 
invalid, manifesting by its caresses the joy it felt at seeing him again. 
The Turkey Buzzard (Vu/tur aura) is a native of the same hem1- 
sphere as the preceding species, but is more addicted to temperate 
climates. It is met with as far north as the shores of the great chain 
of lakes which sever Upper Canada from the United States. It is 
the same size as the Urubu, and its habits of life are nearly identical. 
Like the Urubu, too, it is protected by the laws. In Peru, for 
instance, any one who kills an Aura is punished by a fine of fifty 
piastres ; in Cuba, the culprit is excommunicated. They are capable 
