70 HISTORY or 



as the vulture of Senegal, that carries off children, are probably 

 no other than the bird vve have been describing. Russia, Lap- 

 land, and even Switzerland and Germany, are said to have known 

 this animal. A bird of this kind was shot in France, that 

 weighed eighteen pounds, and was said to be eighteen feet 

 across the wings ; however, one of the quills was described only 

 as being larger than that of a swan ; so that, probably, the 

 breadth of the wings may have been exaggerated, since a bird so 

 large would have the quills more than twice as big as those of a 

 swan. However this be, we are not to regret that it is scarcely 

 ever seen in Europe, as it appears to be one of the most formi- 

 dable enemies of mankind. In the deserts of Pachomac, where 

 it is chiefly seen, men seldom venture to travel. Those wild re- 

 gions are very sufficient of themselves to inspire a secret hoiTor : 

 broken precipices — prowling panthers — forests only vocal with 

 the hissing of serpents — and mountains rendered still more ter- 

 rible by the condor, the only bird that ventures to make its re- 

 sidence in those deserted situations. 



CHAP. IV. 



OF THE VULTURE AND ITS AFFINITIES. 



The first rank in the description of birds has been given to 

 the eagle ; not because it is stronger or larger than the vulture, 

 but because it is more generous and bold. The eagle, unless 

 pressed by famine, will not stoop to carrion ; and never devours 

 but what he has earned by his own pursuit. The vulture, on 

 the contrary, is indelicately voracious ; and seldom attacks living 

 animals when it can be supplied with the dead. The eagle 

 meets and singly opposes his enemy ; the vulture, if it expects 

 resistance, calls in the aid of its kind, and basely overpowers its 

 pfcy by a cowardly combination. Putrefaction and stench, in- 

 stead of deterring, only serves to allure them. The vulture 

 seems among birds what the jackal and hya;na are among quad- 

 rupeds, who prey upon carcases, and root up the dead. 



Vultures may be easily distinguished from all those of tne 

 eaele kind, by the nakedness of their heads and necks, which are 



