Gbe IKaarbler 21 



two hawks, — a European Kestrel and a Red-tailed Hawk (Falco Borealis). 

 To my mind it is satisfactorily proved: ist That a perforated Buzzard's 

 eye cannot be restored. 2nd. That he eats fresh meat, and I think pre- 

 fers it. 3rd. That he is guided to his prey by sight and not by smell. 

 Whether he possesses the faculty of smelling putrid meat remains to be prov- 

 ed. 



21st December, 1833. The last evening we procured a wheelbarrow load of 

 offal from the butcher's pen containing the lights and intestines of animals; 

 to this we added the meat which had been made use of in our experiments 

 during the last three days. A frame was raised over it covered with brush- 

 wood. This frame was raised a foot from the ground so as to permit the air 

 to circulate freely, believing as there was only an obstruction to the sight 

 and not to the smell the Buzzard would, if they possessed the power of 

 smelling, alight in the neighborhood or try to get at the offal. 



In the course of the morning we observed at least a hundredBuzzards pur- 

 suing as usual their search after food; and passing very near the place where 

 the offal had been placed. We watched their motions, and there was no 

 check in their flight and not the slightest appearance of their having scent- 

 ed the meat; not one alighted near. They all passed over as if there was 

 no food for them. About one o'clock we took out a small piece of meat 

 from the parcel which was concealed and placed it on the ground, about 

 thirty feet from the place. In a few moments the Buzzards saw it. We 

 caught in succession five in our traps, three of which escaped. In the 

 course of an hour eight alighted around this bait. They greedily ate the 

 meat, but although they were so near to the large quantity that would have 

 satisfied the hunger of all fifty of their tribe, not one was attracted by it nor 

 noticed it in any way. This was a rainy, windy day. The Buzzards were 

 much on the wing. Great numbers were flying about in every direction. 

 We observed that in such weather, particularly when flying against the wind, 

 they could not see a small object far, seldom beyond seventy yards. As far 

 as these experiments have gone they are all in favor of the Buzzard seeking 

 his food by sight, and as yet we have not discovered that he possesses any 

 smell. 



The Turkey Buzzards are more easily caught in a rat-trap than the Black 

 Vultures, although to day we had one of the latter in the trap that had been 

 only caught by the toes and escaped. 



h 22nd December. This was Sunday. No experiments were tried. 

 The Buzzards, however, did not find out the offal. 



23rd. The meat is becoming offensive, and although the Buzzards 

 have not smelt it the dogs have. One of them went to the place and drag- 

 ged out an entrail which the Buzzards soon after saw and several came down 

 to it. They were driven away and the same bait placed near the spot where 



