THE TURKEY BUZZARD. 41 



us, that " the power given to them (the vultures) by 

 nature of discerning the approaching death of a 

 wounded animal is truly remarkable." By way of 

 exemplification, he continues, " a poor emaciated 

 horse, or ox, the deer mired in the margin of the 

 lake, where the timid animal had resorted to escape 

 flies and musquitoes, so fatiguing in summer, is seen in 

 distress with exultation by the buzzard. He imme- 

 diately alights, and, if the animal does not extricate 

 itself, waits, and gorges in peace on as much of 

 the flesh as the nature of the spot will allow." 



Here the author at once invalidates his assertion 

 of the remarkable power given by nature to the 

 vulture, by the insertion of the unfortunate little 

 remark, if it does not extricate itself. The vulture 

 alights, ready to feed on the flesh of the deer, if it 

 does not extricate itself. Now the expression, if it 

 does not extricate itself, gives us to suppose that it 

 may extricate itself; and, if it does extricate itself, 

 then off it goes, and of course escapes from the 

 vulture. Wherefore, in this instance, nature would 

 have given false information to the vulture. 



In closing his account, our author says, " what I 

 have said of their killing and devouring young animals 

 are" (instead of is) " sufficient proofs" (proof) " of 

 this ; but it frequently happens that these birds are 

 forced to wait until the hide of their prey will give 

 way to their bills." 



In order to substantiate this, our author produces 

 an alligator. " I have seen," says he, " a large dead 

 alligator, surrounded by vultures and carrion crows, 

 of which nearly the whole of the flesh was so com- 



