The Turkey Vulture 



quired degree. 1 Anyhow a Vulture's wing is a "plane" of a very special 

 kind. The bird can travel on the wind in any direction, whatever the 

 state of the atmosphere. If this be due to "convection" make the 

 most of it. 



The American Vulture is not a high-flyer, like those of the Orient. 

 He does not lose himself in the empyrean, after the approved fashion of 

 Gyps fidvus, or Neophron percnopterus, or even of our own Condor. 

 Nevertheless, it is evident that our Buzzard places chief dependence upon 



^6^1$'" i* 



Taken in San Luis Obispo County 



AT THE MOUTH OF A NESTING CAVE 



Photo by the Author 



his marvelous eyesight. No visible corruption, be it ever so humble, 

 escapes his notice. But as to the bird's ability to discover hidden treasure, 

 a marked difference of opinion exists. Some authorities have stoutly 

 denied that the Vulture depends at all upon its sense of smell, and cite 

 instances of reeking carrion lightly covered with earth which provoked 

 no attention from the Buzzards. A possible reason for this alleged 

 inability to locate offal by scent alone is brought forward by Coues: 

 "Certain it is that independent of the passing contents of the alimentary 

 canal, permanent foetid odors exhale from the bones and muscles; and 



decent theory and practice have abundantly confirmed the author's position, which he has consistently main- 

 tained for thirty years. 



I740 



