. LETTER XLIH. 



bird will carry off a deer or a calf, as an eagle docs a 

 hare or a lamb. M. de Condarnine says, he has fre- 

 quently seen them in the mountainous parts of Quito, 

 hovering over a flock of sheep, and imagines that 

 tljoy would have attempted to carry some of them oft; 

 had they not been prevented by the shepherds. This 

 bird is of a brown colour, with a white ruiF round the 

 neck, and oh the head a brown comb, but not indent- 

 ed like that of a cock. Some naturalists have classed 

 it among the vultures, because its neck and head are 

 bare of feathers; but. in fierceness and courage, as 

 well as in all its habits and disposition, it seems ra- 

 ther to resemble the eagle. The condor, requiring 

 a wide space for the expansion of its wings, seldom 

 frequents the forests, but chiefly resides in the moun- 

 tains, whence it occasionally descends into the plains 

 near the sea-shore, in search of supplies. 



THE VULTURE, 



as well as the condor, is allowed to hold only the se- 

 cond rank in the class of rapacious birds, and is placed 

 after the eagle, not from any inferiority in size and 

 strength, but from being less generous and bold. 

 The vulture may be easily distinguished from all 

 birds of the eagle kind, by the nakedness of its head 

 and neck, which are covered only with a very slight 

 down and a few scattered hairs. Its eyes are more 

 prominent than those of the eagle: its claws are short 

 and less hooked : its attitude less upright, and its 

 flight more heavy. 



If, however, the vulture be thus distinguished from 

 the eagle by its conformation, it differs still more 

 from that noble bird in its habits and disposition. 

 The eagle, unless violently pressed by hunger, ne- 

 ver stoops to carrion, nor devours any thing but what 

 is obtained by its own pursuit; the vulture, on the con- 

 trary, is indelicately an-.l indiscriminately voracious. 

 Jt seldom attacks living animals when it can obtain a 

 supply from those that are dead; and seems to delight 

 in carrion and putridity. It is frequently kndftvn to 

 root up newly made graves, and devour the dead car- 

 cases they contain. The sense of smelling is in these 



