Turkey Buzzard. 253 
vicinity of densely-populated towns, the greater abundance 
of carrion to be met with in the former places doubtless 
being the cause of this preference. But in California and 
Oregon, according to Dr. Newberry, they are quite as com- 
mon near towns as about the large rivers. In our Southern 
States they visit cities and large villages, and play the part 
of scavengers in company with the black vulture. They are 
said to be so tame and unsuspicious in Kingston, Jamaica, 
that they roost upon the house-tops or prey upon offal in 
the streets. In country places they are no less familiar and 
trustful, as is evidenced while feeding. So intent upon their 
business are they at this time that the presence of human 
beings is unnoticed, and even when forced to forsake their 
booty they sullenly repair to a short distance, only to resume 
their feeding when the annoyance has passed. The common 
crow has been observed to gather around the same food, and 
the utmost good-feeling prevailed. A small flock will often 
settle down upon a dead horse around which several dogs 
have gathered. The snapping and snarling of the dogs, 
when they approach them too closely, do not cause the © 
Vultures to retire, but only to step a few paces aside, when, 
nothing daunted, they continue their feeding, apparently 
oblivious of their whereabouts and surroundings. 
Although the sense of sight is rather keenly developed in 
these birds, yet that of smell is none the less so. This is an 
advantage, for both the visual and olfactory organs seem 
requisite in the determination of the presence of decaying 
animal matters. Asa proof that smell leads to food-detec- 
tion, Dr. Brewer cites an instance, on the authority of Dr. 
Hill, where several of these birds were attracted to the 
house of a German emigrant who was prostrated by fever, 
being drawn by the strong odor escaping from his neglected 
food which had become putrid. Mr. G. C. Taylor, whilst a 
resident of Kingston, sufficiently tested their power of smell. 
He wrapped the carcass of a bird in a piece of paper, and 
flung the parcel into the summit of a densely-leaved tree, 
