72 SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATIONS [Dea 



up to 20.000 or 30,000 before the end of autumn, and if most 

 of these were to survive the winter, even supposing there were 

 food for them, it would not be compatible with man's comfort, 

 if even, with his existence. BE. 



Anticipating Another's Death. 



M. D'Orbigny describes the Caracaras of South America as 

 accompanying the traveller throughout the vast solitudes of the 

 South American forests, but never making their appearance until 

 he comes to a halt ; then suddenly he will see these vultures 

 perching upon the trees in his vicinity, and apparently waiting 

 for the remains of his dinner. Mr. Darwin, however, attributes 

 a far less amiable object to these intruders, and regards this 

 conduct on their part as an evidence of their desire to indulge 

 their carrion-eating propensities at the personal expense of the 

 traveller. Of this he says any one may convince himself " by 

 walking out on one of the desolate plains, and then lying down to 

 sleep : when he awakes, he will see, on each surrounding hillock, 

 one of these birds patiently watching him with an evil eye." , It 

 is sad to think that there are among men vulture-natures which 

 resemble these birds in the eagerness with which they await the 

 death of other people. Under the names, amongst others, of 

 heir-at-law, reversioner, residuary legatee, and executor, there 

 are many keen natures perched about in society, watching for 

 death to strike down other individuals whose remains will be 

 enjoyable. Of course they do not let their wishes become 

 known. From a superficial glance at their demeanour you 

 would judge them to be only interested in their friends' dinner 

 parties. MU. 



Our Daily Death and Resurrection. 



"VVe die daily. We are constantly returning to the earth the 

 materials we received from it. Every movement of our bodies, 

 every exercise of thought and will, every muscular and nervous 

 effort, is accompanied by a corresponding change in the structure 

 of our frames, exhausts the vitality of so much brain, and nerve, 

 and muscle. Every part of our body is undergoing a process of 

 constant disintegration and renovation ; constantly throwing off 



