THE EGYPTIAN VULTURE. 



their talons: even rolling on the ground is of no effect, for tlie Yul 

 lures never quit their hold till they have completed its destruction. 



In few creatures are the designs of Providence more clearly de- 

 veloped than in these. Filthy as they are in their manners, their 

 appearance, and their smell, yet is even this filthiness a blessing to 

 mankind. In hot climates, putridity takes place in a few hours after 

 death, what might be the effects of the aggregated stench, if it were 

 not for the exertions of animals of this description 1 But in some 

 countries they are rendered even of still further importance to man- 

 kind, by destroying the eggs of the Alligator, an animal which 

 otherwise must become intolerable by its prodigious increase. They 

 watch the female Crocodile in the act of depositing her eggs in the 

 sand ; and no sooner does she retire into the water, than they dart to 

 the spot and feast upon the contents of the eggs. 



The resemblance of these birds at a distance, to the Turkey, was 

 the cause of considerable vexation to one of the officers engaged in 

 the expedition round the world under AVoodes Kogers. In the island 

 of Lobos, immense numbers of them were seen; and, highly delighted 

 with the prospect of such delicious fare after a long and tedious voy- 

 age, the officer would not wait even till the boat could put him ashore, 

 but, with his gun in his hand, leapt overboard and swam to land 

 Approaching a large collection of the birds, he fired among them and 

 killed several: but when he came to seize his game, he was sadly 

 disappointed in rinding that they were not Turkeys, and that their 

 stench was almost insupportable. 



The bodies of the Carrion Vultures are extremely offensive to tho 

 smell; and they perch at night on rocks or trees, with their wings 

 partly extended, apparently to purify themselves. They soar to a 

 vast height, and have in the air the sailing motions of the Kite. Car- 

 rion and filth of almost every description are their favorite food; and, 

 from the acuteness of their scent, they can distinguish prey at an 

 immense distance, They will eat even Snakes, and sometimes seize 

 on live Lambs. When a dead body of considerable size is thrown 

 out, they may be observed coming from all quarters, each wheeling 

 about in gradual descent till he reaches the ground. They are not 

 easily driven from their prey; but, when in the act of devouring it, 

 will suffer persons to approach very near them. 



THE AQUILINE, OR EGYPTIAN VULTURE. 



The male is entirely white, except the quill-feathers, which are 

 black, edged with hoary. The female is brown, with the same ex 

 ception of the quill-feathers. The two outermost primaries of each 

 wing in the male, and the four outermost in the female, are entirely 

 black. The head and neck are naked and wrinkled. The eyes are 

 large and black ; the beak is black and hooked, having its base cov 

 tsred with a yellow cere; and the talons are large and extended. 



These disgusting animals frequent the sterile and sandy country 



