BLACK VULTUKE. 
13 
were more, Viesides several in the air over my 
lead, and at a distance. I ventured cautiously within 
""ty yards of the carcass, where three or four dogs, and 
*^Mity or thirty vultures, were busily tearing and 
'levouring'. Seeing them take no notice, I ventured 
“'■‘“•''r, till 1 was within ten yards, and sat down on 
hank. 
,, ■'■"•a. Stiii thcy paid little attention to me. The 
being sometimes accidentally flapped with the wings 
the vultures, ivould growd and snap at them, which 
occasion them to spring" np tor a nioiiient, hut 
immediately gathered in again. 1 remarked the 
l^lires frefiuently attack each other, lighting’ ivith their 
' or heels, striking like a cock, with open wings, 
»'''i fixing their elans in each other’s head. The 
emales, and, 1 believe, the males liken ise, made a hissing 
with open mouth, exactly rcseinbling that pro- 
„*lced by thrustin" a red hot poker into water ; and 
a snuffling, like a dog clearing his nostrils, 
^ Suppose they were theirs. On observing that they 
not heed mV, 1 stole so close that my feet were 
rpjinin one yard of the horse’s legs, and again sat dow u. 
j^ny all slid aloof a few feet ; hut, seeing me (juiet, they 
returned as before. As they were often disturbed 
"y the dogs, 1 ordered the hitter home : my voice gave 
” alarm to the vultures. As soon as the dogs departed, 
® '’nltures crowded in such iiuiiibers, that I counted 
nnetiiiio thirty-seven on and around the carcass, with 
o '' 61 ’al within ; so that scarcely an inch of it was ■yisilue. 
r>netitnes one would come out with a large piece of 
e entrails, which in a moment was surrounded by 
;,?''eral others, who tore it in fragments, and it soon 
^ai'peared. They kept up the hissing occasionally 
of themhaving their whole legs and heads covered 
r^h blood, presented a most savage aspect, btill as the 
rSs advamad, 1 would order them away, which seemed 
gratify the vultures ; and one would pursue another 
c? ’"■ithin a foot or two of the spot where I was sitting, 
“metimes I observed them stretching Ihcir necks along 
ground, as if to press the food dowuivards.” 
A he carrion crow is seldom found on tlio Atlantic, 
4 
