38 BLACK VULTURE. 



habit, know the meaning of such stoppages, and join the first flock, going 

 also directly, and affording further evidence to those persons who are sa- 

 tisfied with appearance only. In this manner I have seen several hun- 

 dreds of Vultures and Carrion Crows assembled near a dead ox at the dusk 

 of evening, that had only two or three about it in the morning ; when 

 some of the later comers had probably travelled hundreds of miles search- 

 ing diligently themselves for food, and probably would have had to go 

 much farther, had they not espied this association. 



Around the spot both species remain ; some of them from time to 

 time examining the dead body, giving it a tug in those parts most acces- 

 sible, until putridity ensues. The accumulated number then fall to work, 

 exhibiting a jmost disgusting picture of famished cannibals ; the strongest 

 driving the weakest, and the latter harassing the former with all the 

 animosity that a disappointed hungry stomach can excite. They are seen 

 jumping off the carcass, reattacking it, entering it, and wrestling for por- 

 tions partly swallowed by two or more of them, hissing at a furious rate, 

 and clearing every moment their nostrils from the filth that enters there, 

 and stops their breathing. No doubt remains on my mind, that the great 

 outward dimensions of these nostrils were allotted them for that especial 

 and necessary purpose. 



The animal is soon reduced to a mere skeleton, no portion of it being 

 now too hard to be torn apart and swallowed, so that nothing is left but 

 the bare bones. Soon aU these bloody feeders are seen standing gorged, 

 and scarcely able to take wing. At such times the observer may approach 

 very near the group, whilst engaged in feeding, and see the Vultures in 

 contact with the Dogs, who reaUy by smeUing have found the prey ; — 

 whenever this happens, it is with the greatest reluctance that the birds 

 suffer themselves to be driven off, although frequently the sudden scowl 

 or growl of the Dogs will cause nearly all the Vultures to rise a few yards 

 in the air. I have several times seen the Buzzards feeding at one extre- 

 mity of the carcass, whilst the Dogs were tearing the other ; but if a 

 single Wolf approached, or a pair of White-headed Eagles, driven by 

 extreme hunger, then the place was abandoned to them until their wants 

 were supplied. 



The repast finished, each bird gradually rises to the highest branches 

 of the nearest trees, and remains there until the full digestion of all the 

 food they have swallowed is completed ; from time to time opening their 

 wings to the breeze, or to the sun, either to cool or to warm themselves, 



