146 THE VULTURE. 



where it had alighted, and then extended one of its 

 wings, which it kept in continual motion. Soon 

 after this, the ohserver saw a large snake raise its 

 head to a considerable distance from the ground, 

 which seemed to be what the bird was expecting, 

 and waiting for ; at the moment the snake reared 

 its head, he instantly struck a sharp blow with the 

 end of his wing, by which the snake was knocked 

 flat on the ground. The bird, however, did not 

 appear confident of having slain his enemy, or 

 gained the victory, but kept its eye fixed on the 

 reptile for a short time, when the snake reviving 

 again, lifted up its head, and the bird, as before, re- 

 peated his blow ; after this second blow he appeared 

 to gain more confidence ; for, almost the moment it 

 was inflicted, he marched boldly up, and struck at 

 the snake with his feet; after which, finding it dis- 

 abled, though not quite dead, he rose almost per- 

 pendicularly to a very great height, when he let it 

 drop, and as it fell with great violence to the ground, 

 he seemed satisfied that there was no more danger 

 to be feared, and accordingly he followed it to the 

 arth, and commenced his hardly-earned meal. 



Vultures are chiefly natives of the hotter regions 

 of the globe, such as South America, Africa, and 

 other similar warm climates. Some sorts are, how- 

 ever, not uncommon in the southern parts of Europe ; 

 and even in England, a few have been seen and 

 killed. In June, ] 826, near Bridge water, in Somer- 

 setshire, a strange unknown bird was observed 

 walking on a road, which on being pursued, flew 

 about a mile towards the sea, and alighted on the 

 beach, where it was shot. It had just been gorging 

 itself with a putrid lamb, which was most likely the 



