120 THE VULTURE. 



They sit in a sort of moping, slouching manner, with 

 their heads buried within their shoulder-bones, as if torpid, 

 or roosting, many of them together, on tall dead pines, or 

 cypress-trees, where in the morning they often continue for 

 hours, with their wings, measuring from eight to ten feet 

 from tip to tip, spread open, as some believe, that the air 

 may blow upon and purify their filthy bodies, though more 

 probably, that it may gradually dry up a portion of that 

 greasy moisture, which might, if very abundant, impede their 

 flight, which is at times prodigious. 



There is one exception to this inactive character of Vul- 

 tures, in a bird which is now classed with them, though more 

 from certain peculiarities in his plumage and beak, than those 

 closer points of resemblance which would fairly entitle him to 

 be placed in such bad company. This bird is called the Snake - 

 eater (Vultur serpentarius), a native of Africa, and of some 

 parts of India; and it is here noticed, on account of its singular 

 manner of destroying serpents, on which it feeds. An eye- 

 witness thus describes it. He was one day riding, when he 

 observed a Snake-eater, while on the wing, make two or 

 three circles at a little distance from the spot on which he 

 then was, and suddenly descend to the ground. On ob- 

 serving the bird, he found it engaged in examining and 

 watching some object near the spot where it stood, which it 

 continued to do for some minutes. After that, it moved with 

 considerable apparent caution, to a little distance from the 

 spot where it had alighted, and then extended one of its 

 wings, which it kept in continual motion. Soon after this, 

 the observer saw a large snake raise its head to a considerable 

 distance from the ground, which seemed to be what the bird 

 was expecting, and waiting for; at the moment the snake 

 reared its head, he instantly struck a sharp blow with the 

 end of his whig, by which the snake was knocked flat on the 

 ground. The bird, however, did not appear confident of 

 having slain his enemy, or gained the victory, but kept his 

 eye fixed on the reptile for a short time, when the snake 

 reviving again, lifted up its head, and the bird as before 

 repeated his blow; after this second blow he appeared to gain 



