1 72 
NATURAL HISTORY 
the ring-tailed eagle, common eagle, bald eagle, rough- 
footed eagle, erne, and clack eagle. But though these 
and others that might be enumerated, for in different 
shades in this fierce family, they have all the same rapa- 
city, the same general form, the same habits, and the 
same manner of bringing up their young. 
Vulture. (PI. 25.) The golden vulture, which seems 
to be the foremost of the tribe, is about four feet and a 
half long, from the end of the beak to that of the tail. 
1 he head and neck are only covered with a few' scattered 
hairs, and the eyes are more prominent than those of the 
eagle. The plumage on the breast and belly is of a red* 
dish colour: the back is black, but the tail and wings are 
of yellowish brown. 
This cruel, unclean, and indolent bird, though totally 
unknown in England, is common in many parts of Eu- 
rope; and in Egypt, Arabia, and many other kingdoms 
of Africa and Asia, vultures are found in great abun- 
dance. In Egypt, and particularly in Grand Cairo, there 
are great flocks of them, which render a most important 
service to the inhabitants, by devouring all the filth and 
carrion which might otherwise render the air pestilen- 
tial. 
In Brazil these birds may be deemed peculiarly ser- 
viceable, from the circumstance of their checking the 
increase of the crocodile tribe. The female crocodile 
frequently lays her eggs, to the number of one or two 
hundred, on the side of the river, and covers them care- 
fully with the sand, to conceal them from all other ani- 
mals. In the mean time a number of vultures watch 
her motions from the branches of some neighbouring fo- 
rest, and, on her retiring, they encourage each other w r ith 
loud cries, pour down upon the spot, lay tne eggs bare, 
and devour them in a few moments. 
Vultures make their nests in the most remote and in- 
accessible rocks, and produce but once a year. Those 
of Europe, indeed, seldom come down into the plains, 
except when the rigours of winter have banished from 
their native retreats all living animals but themselves*, 
Their flesh is lean, stringy, and altogether nauseous 
