92 



CENTRAL AMERICA. 



on a hillock about a hundred yards off, with 

 a gun in my hand, watching the surprising 

 distance that a vulture descries his prey 

 from ; and the gathering of so many from 

 all parts, up and down wind, where none had 

 been seen before, and that in a very short 

 space of time. Hearing a loud whirring noise 

 over my head, I looked up and saw a fine 

 large bird, with outstretched and seemingly 

 motionless wings, sailing towards the carcase 

 that had already been partly demolished. I 

 would not fire at the bird, for I had a presen- 

 timent that it was his majesty of the vul- 

 tures, but beckoned to an Indian to come up 

 the hill, and shewing him the bird that had 

 just alighted, he said, " The king of the 

 vultures ; you will see how he is adored." 

 Directly the fine-looking bird approached the 

 carcass, all the " olloi polloi " of the vulture 

 tribe retired to a short distance ; some flew 

 off and perched on some contiguous branch, 

 while by far the greatest number remained, 

 acting the courtier, by forming a most re- 

 spectful and well-kept ring around him. His 

 majesty, without any signs of acknowledg- 

 ment for such great civility, proceeded to 

 make a most gluttonous meal; but during 

 the whole time he was employed, not a single 



