22 



THE VULTURE. 



told, is now supposed to be exploded since the 

 appearance of the article in Jamesons Journal, I 

 marvel to learn how these birds in Angustura got 

 their information^ that the seemingly lifeless bodies 

 of the Spaniards were merely asleep, — 



«« Dulcis et alta quies, placidasque simillima morti," 



and were by no means proper food for them. 



Some years after this, being alongside of a wood^ 

 I saw a negro on the ground ; and, as I looked at 

 him from a distance, it struck me that all was not 

 right with him. On going up to him I found him 

 apparently dead. Life was barely within him^ and 

 that was all. He was a total stranger to me, and I 

 conjectured that he had probably been seized with 

 sickness as he was journeying on, and that he had 

 fallen down there to rise no more. He must have 

 lain in that forlorn, and I hope insensible state, for 

 many hours ; because, upon a nearer inspection, I saw 

 swarms of red ants^ near him, and they had eateii 

 deeply into his flesh. I could see no marks that the 

 vultures had been upon him. Indeed, their not 

 being here caused me no surprise, as I had long been 

 satisfied, from the innumerable observations which I 

 had made, that the vulture is attracted to its food 



* ** The Red Ant of Guiana marches in millions through the country, in 

 compact order, like a regiment of soldiers. They eat up every insect in 

 their march ; and. if a house obstruct their route, they do not turn out of 

 the way, but go quite through it. Though they sting cruelly when molested, 

 the planter is not sorry to see them in his house ; for it is but a passing 

 visit, and they destroy every kind of insect vermin that had taken shelter 

 under his roof." {Waterton's Wanderings in South America y8(C.) 



