36 BLACK VULTURE. 



hissing and gesticulating very much like young pigeons, and putting 

 their bills to each other, as if expecting to be fed mutually, as their pa- 

 rent had done. 



Two weeks elapsed, black feathers made their appearance, and the down 

 diminished. I remarked an extraordinary increase of their legs and bill, 

 and thinking them fit for trial, I closed three sides of the cage with plank, 

 leaving the front only with bars for them to see through, — had the cage 

 cleaned, washed, and sanded, to remove any filth attached to it from the 

 putrid flesh that had been in it, and turned its front immediately from 

 the course I usually took towards it with food for them. 



I approached it often barefooted, and soon perceived that if I did not 

 accidentally make a noise, the young birds remained in their silent up- 

 right attitudes, until I shewed myself to them by turning to the front of 

 their prison. I frequently fastened a dead squirrel or rabbit, cut open, 

 with all the entrails hanging loosely, to a long pole, and in this situation 

 would put it to the back part of the cage ; but no hissing, no movement, 

 was made ; when, on the contrary, I presented the end of the pole thus 

 covered over the cage, no sooner would it appear beyond the edge, than 

 my hungry birds would jump against the bars, hiss furiously, and attempt 

 all in their power to reach the food. This was repeatedly done with fresh 

 and putrid substances, all very congenial to their taste. 



Satisfied within myself, I dropped these trials, but fed the birds until 

 full grown, and then turned them out into the yard of the kitchen, for 

 the purpose of picking up whatever substances might be thrown to them. 

 Their voracity, however, soon caused their death : young pigs were not 

 safe if within their reach ; and young ducks, turkeys, or chickens, were 

 such a constant temptation, that the cook, imable to watch them, killed 

 them both, to put an end to their depredations. 



Whilst I had these two young vultures in confinement, an extraordi- 

 nary occurrence took place respecting an old bird of the same kind, which 

 I cannot help relating to you. This bird, sailing over the yard, whilst I 

 was experimenting with the pole and squirrels, saw the food, and alighted 

 on the roof of one of the outhouses ; then alighted on the ground, walked 

 directly to the cage, and attempted to reach the food within. I approached 

 it carefully, and it hopped off a short distance ; as I retired, it returned, 

 when always the appearances of the strongest congratulations would take 

 place from the young towards this new comer. I directed several young 

 negroes to drive it gently towards the stable, and to try to make it go in 



