258 Mr. R. Schomburgk on the King of the Vultures. 



I ascertained the fact, that the carrion-crows do not touch the 

 carcass until the vultures have satisfied themselves. I was at 

 a Mr. Sander's at the upper river Berbice. On the opposite 

 shore, the carcass of a cow which died the previous day had 

 attracted a numerous assembly of carrion-crows ; they were 

 perched on the dry branches of some trees which commanded 

 a view of the carcass ; there they sat, silent and mournful, 

 their attitude not upright but stooping ; their wings partly 

 hanging down, and their vesture being black, it appeared they 

 had assembled to bewail the fate of the departed. There they 

 remained the whole morning ; none touched the carcass, nor 

 did they change their position. In the afternoon our atten- 

 tion was attracted by the cry of the negroes, ^' They come, they 

 come !" We went out, and looking towards the opposite shore, 

 we observed four male vultures and several females flying in 

 circles over the place where the cow was lying ; the circles be- 

 came narrower and narrower, and at last they lighted upon 

 some trees in the neighbourhood ; this circumstance was hailed 

 by the sable crew, they extended their wings and became un- 

 ruly, but the former silence was soon restored. The vultures 

 did not immediately attack the dead animal ; they withdrew 

 their neck in the ruff, and remained ogling it for some time. 

 '^ Tem be the judshes, and tem sit in court now to hold 

 judshement o'er em," observed the negroes who were standing 

 around us ; and the remark was so adapted and striking, that 

 we could not help smiling at it. After half an hour had 

 elapsed, one of the male vultures commenced the entertain- 

 ment, and his example was soon followed by the others. 

 Towards evening the former had satisfied their appetite, and 

 the carrion-crows commenced their feast, where harmony how- 

 ever did not appear to be presiding, and scuffles and quarrels 

 took place when it concerned a favourite morsel. 



They soar uncommonly high and possess great powers of 

 flight. Like the eagle, they hover over one and the same spot 

 for a length of time, poise their wings, and please themselves 

 in aerial evolutions, until their sharp scent and sight combine 

 to show them the direction where their appetite may be satis- 

 fied, when they descend in gyratory motions. They do not 

 decline animal food of any description, provided it does not 



