THE VULTURE. 



birds exceedingly acute; and they can scent any car- 

 rion at a very great distance. 



Of the vulture, as well as of the eagle, there are 

 many varieties. The golden vulture measures four 

 feet and a half in length. The neck, belly, and breast 

 are red : but toward the tail the colour becomes more 

 faint; the back is black, and the wings are of a yel- 

 lowish brown. This species, together with the brown 

 and ash-coloured, are natives of Europe. The spot- 

 ted and black are the most common in Egypt; but 

 the bearded, the Brasilian, and the king of the vul- 

 tures, are peculiar to America. Many other varie- 

 ties might be added, which it would be unnecessary 

 to describe, and even tedious to enumerate. You 

 have, my dear Sir, already observed, in your survey 

 of the quadruped tribes, that nature is infinitely di- 

 versified, and in taking a view of the volatile race, 

 you will find that diversity not less visible and strik- 

 ing. 



Of all living creatures, no two are more at enmity 

 than the vulture of Brasil and the crocodile. This ter- 

 rible amphibious animal, which in the rivers of South 

 America grows to the monstrous size of twenty-seven 

 feet in length, lays it eggs to the number of a hun- 

 dred, or two hundred, in the sands on the side of a^ri- 

 ver, where they are hatched by the heat of the cli- 

 mate, and at the same time takes every precaution to 

 hide from all other animals the place where she depo- 

 sits her burden. In the mean while numbers of vul- 

 tures sit silent and unseen. in some neighbouring forest, 

 and view the operations of the crocodile, in the pleas- 

 ing expectation of plunder. They patiently wait till 

 she laid the whole number of her eggs, and, after 

 having covered them with sand, is retired to a consi- 

 venient distance. Then, encouraging one another 

 with ferocious cries, they pour down altogether, hook 

 up the ground in a moment lay the eggs bare, and 

 devour the whole breed. 



To the eye of superficial observation the vulture 

 would appear one of the most noxious and disgusting 

 auiaials in nature; but a close inspection will discover 

 N 4 



