( 225 ) 
the Englijh , when amongft them at a folemn Feaft, threw the Bones to the Dogs, 
which the Indians refented, and prevented the Dogs from touching them, by taking 
the Bones, and covering them in the hot Afhes : Which made Mr. Bartram think 
the Feaft was a Sort of Sacrifice to the Great Spirit they profefs to ferve. My 
Friend Mr. Eighty has alfo told me, that the Native Americans of Hudfon's-Bay , 
carefully bury, or deftroy all the Bones and Fragments of their Meat, left the Dogs 
fhould get at them. Mr. Light thinks their Reafon is, to keep the Dogs fharp fet, 
that they may hunt the better. I remember to have read, fome Voyagers to North 
America , that mention the fame Things relating to the Indian Dogs ; and, upon the 
Whole, I believe it is from fome Superftition, conveyed to them by Tradition, 
that they avoid feeding their Dogs. The North American Dog has more the Air of 
a Wolf or Fox, than of any of the Dog-Kind with us. I hope this Digrefiion will 
be excufed. 
Plate 106. On laying this Bird before the Royal Society , as a Subject unknown, 
my Friend, Dr . fames Ear jons^ took particular Notice of two large Groups of Fea- 
thers, that fall on the Sides of the lower Part of the Back or Rump, and fill up 
the Spaces or Gaps between the Back and Wings, when the Wings are clofed 5 and 
having obferved the like Feathers in Eagles to be raifed up at the Pleafure of the 
Bird, he examined thefe in the Bearded Vulture , and found them to be no Part of 
the Wing, but that they had their Bottoms fixed only in the Skin on the Sides of • 
the Back ; and thinking it ftrange, that the Skin, fimply, fhould have the Power to 
raife, and keep fupported, a large Group of long Feathers, he afked me if he might 
open that Part of the Skin at the Roots of thefe Feathers, which I was very 
willing fhould be done for the Satisfaction of the Doctor’s Curiofity, as well as my 
own. On opening the Skin, the Dr. foon difcovered the Mufcle defcribed in his 
following curious Letter, wrote at my Requeft, which he has given me free Liberty 
t6 publilh for the Information of the Curious. 
SIR , Red-Lyon-Square , Sept . 21, 1750. 
ct T T is but doing you the Juftice due to your great Care and Induftry, in obliging 
<c A the World with your excellent Natural Hi /lory of Birds y to communicate any 
«' Thing in my Power, which might fulfil your laudable Intention of putting what 
* c you do in a clear Light, for the better Underftanding of the Branch you are en- 
* £ gaged in. 
« I have made Honourable Mention of you, in my LeCture upon the Mufcles, which 
cc I difcovered in the Sea-Eagle and other Birds, read on Ehurfday the 3 ift of May laft, 
<■< before the Royal Society , on Account of the happy Opportunity you were fo kind to 
<c give me of difieCting the African Bearded Vulture , which you fhew’d to them at 
“ one of their Meetings, in order to fearch for the fame Mufcles, which I found in 
<c your C o mpany. 
Whatever relates to their Actions, not only in the Eagle and Vulture-Kinds , but 
“ alfo in every other Bird whatfoever, will be found in the above-mentioned LeCture, 
« in 
