TURKEY BUZZARD. 345 



would lead us to suppose it to be the same in them. So inaccurate 

 have observers been in this matter, that some of them have mistaken 

 the large branch of the fifth pair, which traverses the nasal cavity, for 

 the olfactory nerve. The experiments instituted upon the Vultures 

 shew that not only are they not led to their prey by the sense of smell, 

 but also that they are not made sensible by itof the presence of food when 

 in their immediate proximity. Yet, if the olfactory nerve be really the 

 nerve of smell, and if a large expansion of the nasal membrane be in- 

 dicative of an extension of the faculty, one would necessarily infer that 

 the Turkey Buzzard must possess it in a high degree. On the other 

 hand, however, the organ and the nerves being found to be equally de- 

 veloped in birds, such as Geese and Gallinaceous species, which have 

 never been suspected of being guided by smell when searching for food, 

 it would seem to follow that the precise function of this nerve, and the 

 nasal cavities, has not yet been determined in birds. That the nasal 

 passages must be subservient to some other purpose than that of respi- 

 ration merely, is evident from their complexity, but what that purpose 

 is, remains to be determined by accurate observations and experiments. 



BLACK VULTURE OR CARRION CROW. 



Cathartes Iota. 



PLATE CVI. Vol.. II. p. 33. 



Although I have already presented a full and detailed account of 



this bird, I feel it incumbent on me to offer a few additional remarks 



respecting it, because even at the present day many errors relative to 



its habits are to be found, not only in the minds of people in general, 



but even in works that are held in estimation. Thus, in the Fauna Bo- 



reali- Americana I find the following statement : — " Mr Ord informs us 



that the Black Vultures are indolent, and may be observed in companies, 



loitering together for hours in one place. They do not associate with the 



Turkey Vultures." " The latter, though found in the vicinity of towns, 



rarely venture into them, and then always appearing cautious, of the 



near approach of any one." Again, the same person is represented as 



