SIGHT OR SMELL. 



95 



they had hardly been occupied half an hour 

 with him before the spot was crowded with 

 condors, who drove away the dogs, and soon 

 gobbled him up. Now, I think that this 

 case is a very fair argument, out of many as 

 strong, in favour of sight ; the piercing eye 

 of the huge bird soaring in the clouds had 

 caught sight of the dogs, and immediately 

 he winged his way in a straight flight, fol- 

 lowed by all who observed him, and were 

 on the spot in a very short time, though they 

 had neglected the scent for two days. 



Sight I believe to be the cause of the 

 " gathering of the vultures," for, having lived 

 for six years in countries where vultures 

 abound, and having examined their habits 

 very closely, I have often seen this opinion 

 confirmed. The enormous height they soar 

 at gives them a widely extended view, their 

 keen eye enabling them to perceive a dead 

 animal from incredible distances, and their 

 instinct teaching them to watch the move- 

 ments of dogs and other carnivorous animals, 

 as well as to watch the flight of their own 

 species. 



