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lines, and move with great rapidity. They are often seen in 

 companies, soaring at an immense height, particularly previous 

 to a thunder-storm. Their wings are not spread horizontally, 

 but form a slight angle with the body upward, the tips having 

 an upward curve. Their sense of smelling is astonishingly ex- 

 quisite, and they never fail to discover carrion, even when at the 

 distance of several miles from it. When once they have found a 

 carcass, if not molested, they will not leave the place until the 

 whole is devoured. At such times they eat so immoderately that 

 frequently they are incapable of rising, and may be caught with- 

 out much difficulty; but few that are acquainted with them will 

 have the temerity to undertake the task. A man in the State of 

 Delaware, a few years since, observing some Turkey Buzzards re- 

 galing themselves upon the carcass of a horse which was in a 

 highly putrid state, conceived the design of making a captive of 

 one, to take home for the amusement of his children. He cau- 

 tiously approached, and, springing upon the unsuspicious group, 

 grasped a fine, plump fellow in his arms, and was bearing off 

 his prize in triumph, when lo! the indignant vulture disgorged 

 such a torrent of filth in the face of our hero that it produced all 

 the effects of a most powerful emetic, and forever cured him of 

 his inclination for Turkey Buzzards." 



Wilson in this account omits to mention the great beauty of 

 the eggs of this species; and, as I have said above, I feel sure 

 that he is in error in regard to the manner in which vultures 

 detect carrion. It is undoubtedly largely by the sense of sight 

 and not that of smell, although the latter, as stated above, often 

 greatly assists them. In commencing their feast upon a dead 

 animal I have frequently noticed that they first pick out the eyes 

 of the carcass and then attack the softer structures. Advancing 

 putrefaction soon helps them out. If many of the birds are pres- 

 ent at the entertainment they will, in the course of a few days, 

 clean off the skeleton of either a cow or a horse, and then for 

 over a week afterward sit round in the trees nearby, if there be 

 any, or on the ground, contemplating their feat. 



Dr. William L. Balph, writing to Major Bendire, has said, 

 " Many times I have seen these birds in company with the Black 

 Vulture floating down a stream on a dead alligator, cow, or other 

 large animal, crowded so closely together that they could hardly 

 keep their balance, and followed by a number on the wing. I 

 never have seen them fight very much when feeding, but they 



