24 Remarks in Defence of the Author 



3. The most offensive portions of the offal were now 

 placed on the earth ; these were covered over by a thin 

 canvass cloth. On this were strewed several small pieces 

 of fresh beef ; the vultures came, ate the flesh that was 

 in sight ; and although they were standing on a quantity 

 beneath them^ and although their bills were frequently 

 within the eighth of an inch of this putrid matter, they 

 did not discover it. We made a small rent in the canvass 

 and they at once discovered the flesh, and began to devour 

 it. We drove them away, replaced the canvass with a 

 piece that was entire ; again they commenced eating the 

 fresh pieces exhibited to their view, without discovering 

 the hidden food they w^ere trampling upon. 



4. The medical gentlemen who were present, now 

 made a number of experiments which show^ed also inci- 

 dentally, the absurdity of a story widely circulated in the 

 United States through the newspapers^ that the eye of a 



vulture w^hen perforated, and the sight extinguished, would 

 in a few moments be restored, \n consequence of his 

 placing his head under his wing ; the down of which was 

 said to restore the sight. The eyqs were perforated ; I 

 need not add that although the eye refilled, and the ball 

 became of its natural rotundity, the bird became blind ; 

 and that it w^as beyond the power of the healing art to 

 restore his lost sight. His life was, however preserved, 

 by occasionally putting food In his mouth. In this con- 

 dition they placed him In a small out-house, hung the 

 flesh of the hare (that was now become offensive) within 

 his reach ; nay, they frequently placed it w^ithin an inch 

 of his nostrils, but the bird gave no evidence of any 

 knowledge that his favorite food was so near him. This 

 was repeated for several days in succession, with the same 

 results. 



I did not consider this last experiment so conclusive 

 as others did, who witnessed it. The bird might not 



