392 TROPICAL BIRDS OF PREY 



that they will follow the person who feeds them for many miles. 

 D'Orbigny even mentions one of these birds that was so 

 attached to its master that it accompanied him, like a dog, 

 wherever he went. During a serious illness of its patron, the 

 door of the bedroom having been left open, the bird eagerly 

 flew in, and expressed a lively joy at seeing him again. 



Kelying on their inviolability, the gallinazos, like chartered 

 libertines, are uncommonly bold, and during the distributions of 

 meat to the Indians, which regularly take place every fortnight 

 in the South American Missions, they not seldom come in for 

 their share by dint of impudence. In Concepcion de Mojos, 

 an Indian told M. D'Orbigny, who was present on one of those 

 occasions, that he would soon have the opportunity of seeing a 

 most notorious thief, well known by his lame leg ; and the bird, 

 making his appearance soon after, completely justified his re- 

 putation. The traveller was also informed that this urubu 

 knew perfectly well the days of distribution in the different 

 missions; and eight days later, while witnessing a similar 

 scene at Magdalena, twenty leagues distant, he heard the 

 Indians exclaim, and looking up saw his lame acquaintance of 

 Concepcion hurrying to the spot, with the anxious mien of one 

 that is afraid of missing a meal. The padres in both missions 

 assured him that the vulture never failed to make his appearance 

 at the stated time ; a remarkable instance of memory, or highly 

 developed instinct in a bird. 



" If you dissect a vulture," says Waterton, " that has just been 

 feeding on carrion, you must expect that your olfactory nerves 

 will be somewhat offended with the rank effluvia from his craw, 

 just as they would be were you to dissect a citizen after the 

 lord-mayor's dinner. If, on the contrary, the vulture be empty 

 at the time you commence the operation, there will benooffeu' 

 sive smell, but a strong scent of musk." 



The Harpy Eagle (Thrasaetus harpyia) is one of the finest 

 of all the rapacious birds. The enormous developement of 

 his beak and legs, and his consequent strength and power in 

 mastering his prey, correspond with his bold and noble bearing, 

 and the fierce lustre of his eye. His whole aspect is that of 

 formidably organised power, and even the crest adds much 

 to his terrific appearance. 



" Among many singular birds and curiosities," says Mr^ 



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