THE COMMON VULTUEE. 641 



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 [Vultur aura) is a native of the same 

 hemisphere 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. 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 of standing a great 

 amount of cold : when snow covers the ground in the State of 

 Illinois they may be seen congregated in great numbers wherever 

 carrion is to be found. 



The Common Vulture {Neophron percnopterus, Yarrell) is in 

 the Old World that which the Urubu and the Turkey Buzzard 

 are in the New. It is very common in Greece and Turkey, and 

 especially in Egypt and Arabia. In Constantinople and other 

 Eastern cities it performs the duty of removing all the putrid 

 matter which the carelessness and apathy of the inhabitants allow 

 to remain in the streets. A great amount of respect is conse- 

 quently paid to these birds ; and although the law inflicts no penalty 

 for killing them, they nevertheless enjoy the most perfect security 

 in the midst of the Mussulman population. 



These birds were well known to the ancients, who gave them 

 the name of Percnopterus on account of their black wings. The 

 Egyptians classed them among sacred birds, and often repre- 

 sented them on their monuments as religious sj^mbols. Flocks 

 of them are in the habit of following caravans across the desert, 

 always finding something to pick up ; and, as they invariably 

 "accomi^any the pilgrims in their journey to Mecca every year, 

 some devout Mussulmen have bequeathed money sufficient to 

 support a certain number of the birds which manifest such fidelity 

 to the faith of Islam. 



They are about the size of a Fowl; hence they obtain the name 



T T 



