90 HISTORY OF 



take more of the formation of such birds as live 

 upon grain. They have both a crop and a sto- 

 mach, which may be regarded as a kind of gizzard, 

 from the extreme thickness of the muscles of 

 which it is composed. In fact, they seem adapt- 

 ed inwardly, not only for being carnivorous, but 

 to eat corn, or whatsoever of that kind comes in 

 their way. 



This bird, which is common in many parts of 

 Europe, and but too well known on the western 

 continent, is totally unknown in England. In 

 Egypt, Arabia, and many other kingdoms of 

 Africa and Asia, vultures are found in great 

 abundance. The inside down of their wing is 

 converted into a very warm and comfortable kind 

 of fur, and is commonly sold in the Asiatic mar- 

 kets. 



Indeed, in Egypt this bird seems to be of sin- 

 gular service. There are great flocks of them in 

 the neighbourhood of Grand Cairo, which no 

 person is permitted to destroy. The service they 

 render the inhabitants, is the devouring all the 

 carrion and filth of that great city, which might 

 otherwise tend to corrupt and putrefy the air. 

 They are commonly seen in company with the 

 wild dogs of the country, tearing a carcass very 

 deliberately together. This odd association pro- 

 duces no quarrels ; the birds and quadrupeds 

 seem to live amicably, and nothing but harmony 

 subsists between them. The wonder is still the 

 greater, as both are extremely rapacious, and 

 both lean and bony to a very great degree ; pro- 



