SIGHT OR SMELL. 93 



envious bird attempted to intrude upon him 

 or his repast until he had finished, and taken 

 his departure with a heavier wing and slower 

 flight than on his arrival ; but when he had 

 taken his perch on a high tree not far off, 

 his dirty ravenous subjects, increased in num- 

 ber during his repast, ventured to discuss the 

 somewhat diminished carcass, for the royal 

 appetite was certainly very fine. I have 

 since witnessed the above scene acted many 

 times, but always with great interest. 



The above account unavoidably introduces 

 another digression that has been a subject of 

 much controversy ; viz., the cause of the 

 '' gathering of the vultures." Is that cause 

 sight or smell ? Although many respectable 

 authorities have decided in favour of smell, 

 it seems so improbable, not to say impossible, 

 that I am sure, if any judge and jury would 

 try the cause only by the evidence brought 

 forward, they w^ould return a verdict in 

 favour of sight. I will bring forward a few 

 of the arguments : — An animal just killed, 

 or even fallen from exhaustion, and not yet 

 dead, can give out no stench, yet in a few 

 minutes there will be often a large flock of 

 vultures at the spot where not one was 

 previously to be seen, and they arrive equally 



