98 



TURKEY VULTURE 



a slight angle with the body upwards, the tips having an upward 

 curve. Their sense of smelling is astonishingly exquisite, and 

 they never fail to discover carrion, even when at the distance from 

 it of several miles. 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 without 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 regaling themselves upon 

 the carcass of a horse, which was in a highly putrid state, con- 

 ceived the design of making a captive of one, to take home for 

 the amusement of his children. He cautiously approached, and^ 

 springing upon the unsuspicious group, grasped a fine plump fel- 

 low in his arms, and was bearing oflFhis 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 the most pow- 

 erful emetic, and forever cured him of his inclination for Turkey- 

 buzzards. 



On the continent of America this species inhabits a vast range 

 of territory, being common,^ it is said, from Nova Scotia to Terra 

 del Fuego.t How far to the northward of North Californiat they 

 are found we are not informed ; but it is probable that they ex- 

 tend their migrations to the Columbia, allured thither by the 



* In the northern states of our union the Turkey-buzzard is only occasionally seen, it is consider- 

 ed a rare bird by the inhabitants. 



I " Great numbers of a species of Vulture, commonly called. Carrion Crow by the sailors, fVul- 

 tur aura J ^ were seen upon this island (New-year's Island, near Cape Horn, lat. 55 S. 67 W.), and 

 probably feed on young seal-cubs, which either die in the birth, or which they take an opportunity to 

 seize upon." Cook calls them Turkey Buzzards. Forster's voy. ii, p. 516, quarto, London, 1777. 

 We strongly suspect that the sailors were correct, and that these were Black Vultures, or Carrion- 

 crows. 



^ Perouse saw a bird, which he calls the Black Vulture, probably the V, aura, at Monterey Bay, 

 North California. Voy. ii, p. 203. 



