210 BIRDS OF BRITISH GL'IAXA. 



habits. He had often found it stated that these ^'ultnre? when 

 not able to obtain carrion would attack live animals. Durincr his 

 foin- vears' travel in British Guiana he had often for hours — even 

 for davs — watched these Vultures surrounded by snakes, lizards, 

 mammals, and birds, but he never saw them attack either of them. 



Even when a Steppe (Savannah) fire has attracted hundreds 

 of birds of prey of all sorts, which prey on the liAing creatures 

 fleeins: before the fire, one never finds anv Vultures amonof them. 

 In parts of South America the Vultures are strictly protected ; in 

 British Guiana there is a fine of fifty dollars for killing one, the 

 reason being that their scavenger habits are highly appreciated ; 

 in consequence of this they become extremely tam«. and walk about 

 in close proximity to dwellings. He had never seen or heard of 

 them attacking or killing a chick or any other domesticated animal ; 

 whereas if any species of Hawk approaches the settlement or 

 village, the natives, being very zealous about their fowls, raise a 

 hue-and-cry to frighten the robber away. As mentioned above, 

 the Vultures never go to a Savann&h-fire when raging — whereas 

 the day after they attend in enormous flocks on the burnt fields 

 to feed on the animals which bad been killed ijy the fire and which 

 lav about in great numbers. This proves that the Vultures do 

 not despise freshly kille<l animals for food. When in the town 

 of Pirara pieces of fresh meat were given to them, which they 

 .<;walloweJ with great eagerness. If there is sufficient food on 

 a carcase, for the number of Vultures collected there, they gorge 

 themselves to such a degree that they sit quite helpless on the 

 ground. If you attack one in that state its usual method is to vomit 

 its food before being able to make use of its powerful pinions. 



When the Vultures have finished their feasting on a carcase 

 the bones are so clean, and the joints being intact, it looks as 

 though the most skilled articulator had excelled in his profession. 

 By carefully watching these birds he came to the conclusion 

 that they dis<iover the carcases Ijy the use of their nostrils as well 

 as their eyes, and they rarely, if ever, miss the place where the 

 carrion lies. 



Schomburgk did not find their nesting-places. 



Mr. Barrington Brown ((,'anoe and Camp Life, p. 102) gives 

 the following note: — " Black -hea<lerl Turkey -Buzzards wait 

 patipntly in large numbers near a camji to get any scraps and 

 bones that mav remain behind."" 



