144 PURIFICATION. 
Asia sparkle in the morning’s rays. Not less punctual than their 
American brothers, vultures, crows, storks, ibises, set out from their 
balconies on their various missions: some to the fields, to destroy the 
insect and the serpent; others, alighting in the streets of Alexandria 
or Cairo, hasten to accomplish their task of municipal scavengering. 
Did they but take the briefest holiday the plague would soon be the 
only inhabitant of the country. 
Thus, in the two hemispheres, the great work of public health is 
performed with solemn and wonderful regularity. If the sun is 
punctual in fertilizing life, these scavengers—sworn in and licensed 
by nature—are no less punctual in withdrawing from his rays the 
shocking spectacle of death. 
Seemingly they are not ignorant of the importance of their func- 
tions. Approach them, and they will not retreat. When they have 
received the signal from their comrades the crows, which often precede 
them and point out their prey, you will see the vultures descend in a 
cloud from one knows not whence, as if from heaven! Naturally 
