BLACK VULTURE. 37 



there. This would not do ; but, after a short time, I helped to drive it 

 into that part of the gin-house where the cotton seeds are deposited, and 

 there caught it. I easily discovered that the bird was so emaciated, that 

 to this state of poverty only I owed my success. I put it in with the 

 young, who both at once jumped about him, making most extraordinary 

 gestures of welcome, whilst the old bird, quite discomfited at his confine- 

 ment, lashed both with great violence with his bill. Fearing the death of 

 the young, I took them out, and fed plentifully the old bird ; his appe- 

 tite had become so great through fasting, that he ate too much, and died 

 of suffocation. 



I could enumerate many more instances, indicating that the power of 

 smelling in these birds has been grossly exaggerated, and that, if they can 

 smell objects at any distance, they can see the same objects much farther. 

 I would ask any observer of the habits of birds, why if Vultures could 

 smell at a great distance their prey, they should spend the greater por- 

 tion of their lives hunting for it, when they are naturally so lazy, that, if 

 fed in one place, they never leave it, and merely make such a change as 

 is absolutely necessary to enable them to reach it. But I will now enter 

 on their habits, and you will easily discover how this far famed power has 

 originated. 



Vultures are gregarious, and often associate in flocks of twenty, forty, 

 or more ; — hunting thus together, they fly in sight of each other, and 

 thus cover an immense extent of country. A flock of twenty may easily 

 survey an area of two miles, as they go turning in large circles, often in- 

 tersecting each other in their lines, as if forming a vast chain of rounded 

 links ; — some are high, whilst others are low ; — not a spot is passed un- 

 seen, and, consequently, the moment that a prey is discovered, the favoured 

 bird rounds to, and, by the impetuosity of its movements, gives notice to 

 its nearest companion, who immediately follows him, and is successively 

 attended by all the rest. Thus the farthest from the discoverer being at 

 a considerable distance, sails in a direct line towards the spot indicated to 

 him by the flight of the others, who all have gone in a straight course 

 before him, with the appearance of being impelled by this extraordinary 

 power of smelling, so erroneously granted to them. If the object dis- 

 covered is large, lately dead, and covered with a skin too tough to be eaten 

 and torn asunder, and affords free scope to their appetites, they remain 

 about it, and in the neighbourhood. Perched on high dead limbs, in such 

 conspicuous positions, they are easily seen by other Vultures, who, througli 



