THE VULTURE. 125 



actually carried off the flesh, notwithstanding the efforts 

 made to drive away or destroy them by shouting, throw- 

 ing, or even shooting at them. As fast as one dropped, 

 others supplied his place. Another English traveller, 

 who marched for some days with an army in Abyssinia, 

 in a different part of Africa, speaks of their numbers as 

 to be compared to the sand of the sea, extending over 

 the troops like a black cloud ; they were also more cou- 

 rageous [than some other species ; for he once saw one 

 strike an Eagle to the ground, which had accidentally 

 straggled into a host of Vultures, assembled to feed on 

 the dead soon after a battle. 



They are, however, sometimes more dainty in their 

 choice of food ; as in Egypt, where, during the season 

 when crocodiles and alligators lay their eggs in the sand, 

 these cunning birds will sit, hid in the leaves of the 

 trees, watching the females coming on shore to lay their 

 eggs, which, when laid, they cover carefully with sand, 

 thinking, no doubt, that they are thus safe from all 

 danger, and sure to be hatched in regular course of time 

 by the warmth of the soil, heated as it is by the sun ; 

 but no sooner does she retire than the concealed birds 

 glide down, and with claws, wings, and beak, tear away 

 the sand, and quickly devour the hidden treasures. 



A dead crocodile or alligator is equally acceptable, 

 but as these reptiles are furnished with strong horny or 

 scaly coats, like armour, much too strong to be opened 

 and broken into, by either beaks or claws, the Vultures 

 are often obliged to wait for a long time until the hide 

 of the carcass loosens, and affords them an opportunity 

 of tearing it off; but they are then as often disappointed 

 of their expected feast, for the flesh, when in a very de- 

 cayed state, becomes almost fluid and runs off, to the 

 great disappointment of the hungry birds. 



Naturalists are a good deal divided as to the faculty 

 by which these birds are enabled to discover, in a most 

 surprising manner, a dead or dying animal at the dis- 

 tance of even many miles. 



