EXPLANATORY INDEX. 485 



The Aura Vulture, popularly known as the Turkey Buzzard, 

 is very common in its own country, and in civilized places is 

 protected by law, on account of its value as a scavenger. 

 Waterton states, in corroboration of his own view of the case, 

 that during the dreadful plague in Malaga, which has already 

 been mentioned on p. 11, the Vulture did inestimable service. 



" So great was the daily havoc of death, that no private 

 burials could be allowed, and many a corpse lay exposed in 

 the open air until the dead carts made their rounds at night- 

 fall to take them away to their last resting-place, which was 

 a large pit, prepared by the convicts in the day time. 



" During this long-continued scene of woe and sorrow, which 

 I saw and felt, I never could learn that the Vultures preyed 

 upon the dead bodies which had not had time enough to 

 putrefy. But, when the wind blew in from the Mediterranean, 

 and washed ashore the corrupted bodies of those who died of 

 the pestilence, and had been thrown overboard from tho 

 shipping, then it was that the vultures came from the neigh- 

 bouring hills to satisfy their hunger." 



The popular name of turkey buzzard is given to the bird 

 on account of its resemblance to the common turkey, and 

 many a new comer has found himself an object of derision 

 because he has shot an Aura Vulture, taking it for a 

 turkey. 



VULTURE SUNNING ITSELF. 



The smaller illustration is taken from a sketch at the 

 Zoological Gardens, representing the Vulture in a favourite 

 attitude, sitting on its ankles, with its wings half spread, 

 rejoicing in the sun. 



VULTURE, KING (Sarcorhamphus papa). Being one of the 



