THE VULTURE. 125 



is clearly apparent, that the Vulture should be the 

 means of preventing the great increase of so terrible 

 an animal. 



These ferocious monsters, were it not for the Vul- 

 tures, would in a short time become so numerous, as 

 to make it dangerous, or even impossible, for men to 

 inhabit the country, for the females lay from one to 

 two hundred eggs each, every year. 



The Crocodiles take care to place their eggs in situ- 

 ations so secret, that other animals do not often find 

 them, and having covered them with sand, they are 

 left to be hatched by the heat of the sun. The Vul- 

 tures seem to understand all this, and during the sea- 

 son of the year when these monstrous animals cor^e 

 out of the water to deposite their eggs, these birds are 

 seen perched on some tall tree, waiting the event of 

 such a visit. When one comes on the land, they psc- 

 tiently and silently watch the place to which she goes, 

 and keep still until the huge beast has laid and covered 

 her eggs with the sand, and returned to the water. 

 Then, encouraging each other with loud cries, they all 

 together, pour down upon the nest, hook up the sand 

 with their crooked bills, and in a few minutes devour 

 every egg the crocodile has left. 



Nothing can be more filthy and offensive than these 

 birds. The food which they prefer, is to all animals, 

 except the hyena, the most disagreeable of objects. 

 But notwithstanding this disgusting appetite, which 

 renders them so hateful in the sight of men, the All- 

 wise Creator has designed them to answer a valuable 

 purpose in the world. The cleaning of the streets of 

 cities in hot climates, and the destruction of the cro- 

 12 



