92 HISTORY OF 



that they fall with fury down, and inevitably de- 

 vour the unfortunate animal. They sometimes 

 attempt them grazing in the fields j and then, to 

 the number of a hundred or more, make their at- 

 tack all at once and together." 



" They are attracted by carrion," says Catesby, 

 " from a very great distance. It is pleasant to 

 behold them, when they are thus eating, and dis- 

 puting for their prey. An eagle generally pre- 

 sides at these entertainments, and makes them all 

 keep their distance till he has done. They then 

 fall to with an excellent appetite ; and their sense 

 of smelling is so exquisite, that the instant a car- 

 cass drops, we may see the vultures floating in 

 the air from all quarters, and come sousing on 

 their prey." It is supposed by some, that they 

 eat nothing that has life ; but this is only when 

 they are not able ; for when they can come at 

 lambs, they show no mercy ; and serpents are 

 their ordinary food. The manner of those birds 

 is to perch themselves, several together, on the 

 old pine and cypress trees, where they continue 

 all the morning, for several hours, with their wings 

 unfolded ; nor are they fearful of danger, but 

 suffer people to approach them very near, parti- 

 cularly when they are eating. 



The sloth, the filth, and the voraciousness of 

 these birds, almost exceed credibility. In the 

 Brasils, where they are found in great abundance, 

 when they light upon a carcass which they have 

 liberty to tear at their ease, they so gorge them- 

 selves that they are unable to fly, but keep hopping 

 along when they are pursued. At ah 1 times they 



