WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 225 



seems to be in disgrace with man. They are gen- 

 erally termed a voracious, stinking, cruel, and 

 ignoble tribe. Under these impressions, the 

 fowler discharges his gun at them, and probably 

 thinks he has done well in ridding the earth of 

 such vermin. 



Some governments impose a fine on him who 

 kills a vulture. This is a salutary law, and it 

 were to be wished that other governments would 

 follow so good an example. I would fain here say 

 a word or two in favour of this valuable scavenger. 



Kind Providence has conferred a blessing on 

 hot countries in giving them the vulture; he has 

 ordered it to consume that which, if left to dis- 

 solve in putrefaction, would infect the air, and 

 produce a pestilence. When full of food, the vul- 

 ture certainly appears an indolent bird; he will 

 stand for hours together on the branch of a tree, 

 or on the top of a house, with his wings droop- 

 ing, and, after rain, with them spread and ele- 

 vated to catch the rays of the sun. It has been 

 remarked by naturalists, that the flight of this 

 bird is laborious. I have paid attention to the 

 vulture in Andalusia, and to those in Guiana, 

 Brazil, and the West Indies, and conclude that 

 they are birds of long, even, and lofty flight. In- 

 deed, whoever has observed the aura vulture, will 

 be satisfied that his flight is wonderfully majestic, 

 and of long continuance. 



The bird is above five feet from wing to wing 

 extended. You will see it soaring aloft in the 

 aerial expanse on pinions which never flutter, and 

 which at the same time carry him through the 

 fields of ether with a rapidity equal to that of the 

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