J. F. Centellas: Contra la destrucción del aura. 69 



de Washin^on, en la que también coincide en un todo con mis 

 apreciaciones (**). 



Y por último, señores, con feclia 7 de Julio autorizado por el 

 Sr, Subsecretario de mi Departamento, dirigí una comunicación 

 al Sr. Subsecretario de Estado, rogándole inquiriera de manera 

 oficial del Gobierno Americano, por conducto de nuestro ]\Iinis- 

 tro en Washington, lo que se opinaba en la Secretaría de Agri- 

 cultura de aquella capital respecto a la conveniencia de destruir 

 las auras; y aquel Gobierno le contesta oficialmente a nuestro 

 Ministro, que no procede esa destrucción de las auras, soste- 

 niendo también de modo categórico todo, absolutamente todo lo 

 que yo he venido y vengo sustentando. Acompaño esta comuni- 

 cación oficial, fechada en 7 de Septiembre C^) y las comunica- 

 ciones números 1, ^ 3, 4 y 5 que se refieren a este particular. 



(6) August 20, 1915. 



My dear Pearson: The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) and the Black Vulture 

 (Catharista urubú or atrata) are everywhere considerad most beneficial birds, through 

 their Services as scavengers. They perforní a class of services to mankind that can 

 not be attempted by any other birds native of the Western Hemisphere. The state- 

 ment has been made that they cause the spread of hog cholera, but it has been de- 

 monstrated that the digestive action of these birds is so powerful that the germs 

 can not pass through the alimentary tract alive. One might be tempted to suggest 

 that these birds kill countless germs by feeding on hogs that have died of cholera. 

 As the disease occurs in regions where the vultures are absent, it follows that they 

 can not be guilty of its spread in such localities. There os a possibility that the 

 germs may be carried from one spot to another on the feathers of the birds, as the 

 vultures are very slovenly eaters. If this be so, the spread of the germs could be 

 combatted by burying the careases of the victims of cholera and thus placing them 

 beyond the reach of the birds. 



(Signed) Charles W. Richmond, Acting Curator of Birds, Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, Washington, D. C. 



(7) September 7, 1915. 



Dr. Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, 1529 Eighteenth St., N. W., Washington, D. C. 



Sir: In response to a request by telephone from the Cuban Legation, we are 

 forwarding information on the relations oí the turkey buzzards to stock diseases. 

 The charge that the buzzard spreads hog cholera has , nevar been scientifically 

 investigated, and until this is done, judgment should be suspended. The relation 

 of the turkey vulture to anthrax has been so investigated with the result that the 

 bird must be considered a minor agency in the distribution of the disease as com- 

 pared to man, various domestic, and certain wild animáis. We endose a circular 

 which abstracts two publications devoted to the relation of vultures to anthrax. 

 There are so many agencies concerned i nthe distribution of stock diseases, that it is 

 certain that these diseases ■would be just as widely distributed as they are now 

 if turkey vultures were eliminated. What amounts to proof of this statement is 

 the fact that stock diseases are seriously destructive in regions where there are no 

 turkey buzzards, as in certain Canadian provinces. 



Trusting that the information in this letter and in the enclosure will be helpful 

 to you, I remain 



V«ry truly yours, 



A. K. Fisher, Survey Acting Chieí, Biological. 



