oGA THE SENSORIAL FUNCTIONS. 



hard, he placed it in the middle of an open field, 

 laying it down on its back, in the attitude of a 

 dead animal. In the course of a few minutes after- 

 wards, he observed a vulture flying towards it, and 

 alighting near it. Quite unsuspicious of the decep- 

 tion, the bird immediately proceeded to attack it, 

 as usual, in the most vulnerable points. Failing in 

 his object, he next, with much exertion, tore open 

 the seams of the skin, where it had been stitched 

 together, and appeared earnestly intent on getting 

 at the flesh, which he expected to find within, and 

 of the absence of which, not one of his senses was 

 able to inform him. Finding that his efforts, which 

 were long reiterated, led to no other result than the 

 pidling out large quantities of hay, he at length, 

 though with evident reluctance, gave up the at- 

 tempt, and took flight in pursuit of other game to 

 which he was led by the sight alone, and which 

 he was not long in discovering and securing. 



Another experiment, the converse of the firsts 

 was next tried. A large dead hog was concealed in 

 a narrow and winding ravine, about twenty feet 

 deeper than the surface of the earth around it, and 

 filled with briers and high cane. This was done in 

 the month of July in a tropical climate, where pu- 

 trefaction takes place with great rapidity. Yet, 

 although many vultures were seen, from time to 

 time, sailing in all directions over the spot where 

 the putrid carcass was lying, covered only with 

 twigs of cane, none ever discovered it ; but in the 

 mean while, several dogs had found their way to it^ 

 and had devoured large quantities of the flesh. In 

 another set of experiments it was found that young 

 vultures enclosed in a cage, never exhibited anv 



